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PIONEER HISTORY 



CHAMPLAIN VALLEY; 



AX ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF 
WILLSBOROUGH BY WILLIAM GILLILAND, 

TOGETHER WITH 

HIS JOURNAL AND OTHER PAPERS, 



P^moir, mti giisitartal nmX gUu.stvntive ^ofjc^, 



BY WINSLOW C WATSON. 




ALBANY, N. Y. : 

J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 

1863. 



;.■^^^ 



HOIT. AUGUSTUS C. HAND, 

PROMINENT AMONG THE EMINENT CITIZENS 
OP OUR COMMON DISTRICT, 

IDENTIFIED WITH ITS 

POLITICAL AND JUDICIAL HISTORY, 

AND THE LIFE-LONG FRIEND OF THE DISTINGUISHED DESCENDANT OF 
THE SUBJECT OF THIS VOLUME, 

THE WORK, WITH ESTEEM AND FRIENDSHIP, 
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 



PREFACE. 



In the year 1852 I was engaged, under the 
auspices of the State Agricultural Society of New 
York, in making an agricultural survey of Essex 
county, in that state. My duties incidentally in- 
volved an examination of its natural features and 
resources, and a research into its traditions and 
history. Whilst I was employed in these enquiries, 
the late General Ross mentioned to me Oscar F. 
Sheldon, of Willsboro, as most competent, from his 
habits and study, to aid my labors. I at once 
visited Mr. Sheldon, and was surprised and de- 
lighted by the rich treasury of antiquarian wealth 
he revealed to my inspection. I learnt that he 
had been occupied, without noise or pretension, 
for fifteen years, in exploring the traditions and 
chronicles, and in collecting the antiquarian ele- 
ments of the county, and that he had made con- 
siderable progress in a local history of Willsboro. 
The first night I enjoyed his hospitality, we occu- 
pied, to a late hour, in reading his manuscripts and 
discussing the varied points of interest in our com- 



VI PREFACE. : 

mon investigations. With rare liberality and 
kindness, Mr. Sheldon assigned to my use the 
fruits of these years of labor and vigilance. 

At this time I first heard, from Mr. Sheldon, of 
the existence of the Gilliland journal and docu- 
ments. He had visited William Gilliland, Esq., 
the son of the pioneer, at Salmon Kiver, had 
been allowed to inspect these relics, and had de- 
rived, from the recollections and conversation of 
Mr. Gilliland, a vast fund of the most valuable 
information. This gentleman was a schoolboy of 
fourteen at the outbreak of the Revolution, and of 
course was familiar with the colonization schemes 
of his father, and all his eventful history. He im- 
parted freely to Mr. Sheldon all the information 
he jDOSsessed, and engaged to make a careful in- 
spection of his father s papers, and to collect those 
of interest for the examination of Mr. Sheldon, at 
a future visit, which was appointed. Mr. Sheldon 
made copious notes of the facts and recollections 
communicated to him, but unhappily Mr. Gilliland 
did not survive to the time designated for the 
second interview. 

I immediately oj)ened a correspondence with 
Messrs. William and Henry P. Gilliland, the 
grandsons of the original proprietor, who resided 
at Salmon River, on the patrimonial estate. These 
gentlemen submitted to my examination, without 



PREFACE. Vll 

any restraint, all the papers of their ancestor, in 
their possession. I spent several days in this very 
pleasant occupation, and in the enjoyment of the 
attentions and hereditary hospitality of the family. 
From the mass of papers I examined, I selected 
the journal, letters, and other materials, which are 
embodied in the following work. I am quite con- 
fident that other documents of great interest are 
still in existence, and in the possession of other 
persons; but I have been unable to excite any 
enthusiasm which might elicit the discovery and 
production of these papers. 

Joel Munsell, Esq., the eminent author and 
laborious explorer in the obscure but fascinating 
paths of antiquarian researches, detected from my 
work on Essex county the existence of this new 
and rich field of exploration opened by these Gilli- 
land manuscripts. His appeals have been urgent 
and unremitting upon me to prepare them for pub- 
lication. I at length yielded my reluctance to his 
zealous representations, which presented the sub- 
ject to me almost in the form of a patriotic duty, 
and have assumed the laborious task he proposed. 
I feel conscious that the time and attention, drawn 
from other occupations, which I have been able to 
devote to this labor, have been inadequate to an 
appropriate performance of the service I have ini 
posed uj^on myself. 



Vlll PREFACE. 

I am again, since I have embarked in these ex- 
plorations a second time, indebted to Mr, Sheldon 
for unceasing and most valuable aid, in the collec- 
tion and preparation of the materials I required. 
The investigations of the future historians of our 
country would be infinitely facilitated, did every 
community enjoy the presence of a chronicler, 
who should garner up its legends and records with 
the intelligence and zeal that has distinguished 
his services. Mr. Sheldon is descended fiom one 
of the earliest immigrants after the Revolution, and 
has enjoyed from this circumstance peculiar ad- 
vantages for tracing and gathering traditions and 
reminiscences which extend to the remotest period 
of the colonization. 

The mental and moral qualities of William Gil- 
liland Avere of a remarkable character. Endowed 
with extraordinary energies and high intellectual 
powers, which were burnished and invigorated by 
culture, his enterprise, his sagacity and forecast, 
would have impressed a powerful influence where- 
ever his capacities were exercised. His life was 
a romance — basking in brilliancy and hope — 
steeped in adversity — culminating in the highest 
prosperity, it closed its infinite vicissitudes in dark- 
ness and gloom, and by a tragic end. 

W. C. WATSON. 
Port Kent, Essex County, N. Y. 
August, 1863. 



PIONEER HISTORY 



CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 

This lake, with its navigable waters, stretches due 
north from White Hall to St. Johns, in a direct 
course of about one hundred and thirty miles. The 
navigation is safe and unobstructed, and in the winter, 
from the Canada line to its southern extremity, the 
firm ice forms a perfect and commodious highway for 
intercourse. Lake Champlain has no parellel in its 
peculiar beaiities, revealed in the variety, the majesty 
and exquisite loveliness of its scenery.^ On the east 
it is bounded by an undulating shore, rich and beauti- 
ful under a luxuriant culture ; and beyond this line, 
the horizon is limited by the bold and serrated outline 
of the Green Mountains. On the western shore, the 
dark and dislocated Adirondacs spread far into the in- 

1 An eminent citizen of New York, whose extended travels had made 
him an intelligent observer of every quarter of the globe, once re- 
marked to me, that he had nowhere viewed scenery which compared 
with the beauties of Champlain. That of Lake Constance, he added, 
was its nearest approach. 



10 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

terior — at various points projecting their jagged spurs 
into the lake, and often presenting lofty headlands, 
waving with forests or frowning in bleak masses of 
naked granite. Wide fields spread between these 
headlands, teeming with flocks and herds, and redo- 
lent in beauty and fertility. In its central and widest 
part, the lake is nearly fifteen miles broad. Innumer- 
able islands variegate and adorn the scene. Some arc 
mere rocky shafts shooting up from the surfiicc of the 
waters ; others, decked in their native emeralds, gleam 
like gems upon the bosom of the lake ; while others 
of alluvial formation, glow in their soft and gentle 
loveliness, and are unsurpassed in their exuberant 
fertility. 

If the borders of this lake are thus transcendent in 
their natural features of beauty and magniticence, 
around no other section of the country cluster histori- 
cal associations so brilliant and memorable. In the 
annals of a century and a half, by successive deeds of 
daring, by bloody forays, by the romances of border 
warfare, by the conflicts of fleets and armies, the 
waters and the shores of Champlain have been conse- 
crated as the classic ground of America. In those 
merciless contests, in which France and England were 
the allies of savage tribes ; in the long and sanguin- 
ary conflicts between those great powers ; in the war 
of the Revolution, and that of 1812, the whole course 
of the lake was stained with blood, and emblazoned 
by feats of glory. The muse of history will hereafter 
delight to expatiate amid these scenes. 

"When Samuel Champlain, in 1609, entered upon 
the waters which have perpetuated his name, silence 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 11 

and solitude brooded over tlic beautiful scene ; not a 
solitary Indian wigwam relieved its desolation and 
stillness. Notwithstanding tlie beauty and fertility of 
the environs of the lake, and the exuberance of its 
game and fislieries, ruthless invasion had driven its 
savage population into the recesses of the forests, and 
beyond the mountain barriers, for protection. The 
long and narrow track of the lake, adapted to the 
transit of the light canoe, had opened a pathway be- 
tween hostile tribes, in their perpetual missions of re- 
ciprocal slaughter and rapine. The Indian, doubtless 
in reference to this fact, gave to the lake the striking 
and appropriate name, Caniadere-Guarante, that is, 
The lake that is the gate of the countr3\ From 
the discovery of Champlain to the present hour, except 
one brief interval, its character and position has been 
unchanged. Its waters have ever been the portals of 
alien and often hostile nations. Along its highway 
the stealthy march of murderous bands have passed, 
to be precipitated upon the slumbering settlements of 
a foe. Fleets of canoes and batteaux in summer have 
glided over its pure waters on errands of blood 
and rapine. In winter its crystal pavement aftbrded 
an easy pathway to the invader; or if deep snows 
rested upon the ice, the snow shoe left scarcely an im- 
press to betray his transit. By this track the French, 
with their savage associates, traversed the lake, and 
penetrating the gorges of the Green Mountains, de- 
vasted, amid the snows and storms of winter, the fair- 
est villages of New England. Clothed in the pomp 
and panoply of modern warfare, vast armies have 
gathered upon the sequestered shores of Champlain, 



12 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

guided by the policy, and stimulated by the feuds of 
the old world. The annals of Lake Champlaiu is a 
gory record of mutual atrocities. The sanguinary 
raids of the French and Hurons were not more rapa- 
cious and pitiless, than the incursions of the English 
and the Mohawks upon the fertile fields of Canada, 
amid their joyous harvests. 

Until the occupation of Crown Point by France, 
neither power had established any permanent or tangi- 
ble possession upon the shores of Champlaiu. This 
territory had been a debatable ground, claimed by 
both under artificial or imaginary titles, until the 
treaty of Utrecht, when it was virtually recognized to 
be embraced in the domains of the Iroquois, and un- 
der the protectorate of England. Although neither 
France nor England yielded to the claims of the other, 
each comprehended the vast importance of securing 
these " gates " to the possessions of its rival. Influ- 
enced by these views, the government of Canada, dis- 
regarding the obligations of treaties, and the restraints 
of a profound peace, suddenly advanced, in the year 
1731, up the lake, and seized, by a military force at 
first, a promontory opposite Crown Point, and, soon 
after, that position itself. It had not, at an earlier 
period, been formally occupied, but had long been 
regarded as a prominent position in the official papers 
of both nations. 

The Crown Point of history, is a narrow peninsula, 
forming a section of the modern town of that name, 
which is remarkable for its high agricultural fertility, 
and for the exceeding loveliness of the landscapes its 
diversified scenery presents. The peninsula is formed 



THE CUAMPLAIN VALLEY. 13 

by Buhvagga bay, a broad estuary on the west, and 
by the lake upon the east, which liere abruptly changes 
its course at nearly right angles, and from a wide ex- 
panse at the north, is compressed into a narrow chan- 
nel scarcely a fourth of a mile in width. The most 
unpracticed eye would at once perceive that the posi- 
tion commanded the navigation of the lake. A wild 
waste of forests extended on both sides of the lake, 
from the settlements on the Hudson, to the hamlets 
of Canada. This wilderness was traversed in every 
direction by impassable mountains, and deep gorges, 
and rapid streams. 'No track penetrated its solitudes 
except the path of the Indian. 

The prominence of Crown Point in the annals of 
Lake Champlain, and its connection with the narra- 
tive of Mr. Gilliland, demand a glance at its histoiy. 
The most decisive evidence exists of the presence, at 
some former period, of a large and civilized commu- 
nity in the vicinity of Crown Point. Tradition, cor- 
roborated by ancient papers, estimates this population 
to have ranged from fifteen hundred to three thousand 
persons. A street may still be traced, extending a 
long distance from the point towards the main land, 
raised and covered with broken stones, similar to the 
McAdam roads of the present day. The ruins of cel- 
lars line this street on each side. Their compact 
arrangement, and the narrowness of the avenue, as- 
similate its appearance to the ancient villages in 
Canada founded by the French. Indications are pal- 
pable, that along the margin of the bay, the ground has 
been graded and formed into an artificial slope. The 
shore, shelving to the water, had been prepared for 



14 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

the accommodation of fleets of flat bottomed batteaux 
and canoes, wliicli at an early day navigated the lake. 
Fragments of lofty stone walls, adapted to the enclo- 
sure of gardens and orchards, are still visible. Fruit 
trees in the memory of living men flourished upon 
these grounds. Sidewalks, formed of common flag- 
ging, smooth and worn, remain as they were left by 
the generation, who once thronged them in the active 
vocations of life. These, combined with numerous 
other impressive evidences, imparted conviction to my 
own mind (when a few years since I explored the 
scene, under the most intelligent guidance), that 
Crown Point, previous to the Revolution, was a popu- 
lous and important village.^ "We know that a prosper- 
ous trafiic prevailed between the French and British 
possessions, anterior to the year 1700, and that Lake 
Champlain was the medium of that intercourse. May 
we not assume that Crown Point had become, under 
the influence of this traffic, a flourishing mart, in 
which the commodities of the alien colonies were in- 
terchanged, and where the Indians congregated from 

1 A large tract of land, lying between Crown Point and Ticonderoga, 
was cleared and cultivated during the French occupation. The heavy 
forests which now stand in places upon this territory, bear unmistak- 
able evidence that they are of a second growth. The ruins of a ceme- 
tery, and the vestiges of numerous edifices, with other indications, 
show that this whole area of country had been at a former period 
thickly populated. Nathan Beaman, the youthful guide of Ethan 
Allen, informed Mr. Sheldon that he recollected several stores trans- 
acting business at Crown Point previous to the year 1775. About 
that period, he rowed a party from Vermont to Crown Point, on some 
festive occasion, at the house of a Mr. Bentzle, and spoke of seeing 
silver plate upon the table, with other appliances of wealth and lux- 
ury iu the village. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 15 

■wide hunting grounds to trade tlieir peltries. A sin- 
gle farm house uow occupies the peninsula of Crown 
Point, and flocks of sheep graze upon the soil where 
was marshaled the legions of France and England. 
While I contemplated the ruins of St. Frederic, cattle 
were ruminating in its bastion, and a solitary robin 
was twittering in the branches of a tree, whose roots 
were interlaced among the rocks of its ramparts. 

The incompetent government of i!^ew York, either 
ignorant or careless of this audacious usurpation by 
the French arms, remained inactive, until the formid- 
able fortress was erected at Crown Point, that secured 
to France the dominion of the lake. It is not neces- 
sary to recite the pretences by which these acts were 
excused or explained, nor the alarm and agitation they 
caused in 'New England, and which were at length 
aroused in the province which should have been the 
first to oppose such aggressions. 

The colonies invoked in vain the attention of Eng- 
land to these encroachments. In vain did they pro- 
claim to the home government, that the safety and 
colonial existence of New York and IsTew England 
were imperiled by the hostile occupation of Crown 
Point. The British ministry was unconscious of the 
nascent greatness of America ; Walpole could detect 
no germ of future empire in the wilderness of the new 
world. While the ignoble treaty of Aix La Chapelle 
relinquished to France the fortress of Louisburgh, 
purchased by the blood and treasures of New England, 
Crown Point, without a protest, was left in the posses- 
sion of the power that grasped at the conquest of the 
western continent. 



16 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Not until 1755 did the British government in a de- 
cidecl tone demand the demolition of the works at 
Oro n Point. Diplomacy, after the submission of a 
quarter of a century, could not retrieve a position lost 
by imbecility or recklessness. The practical reply to 
these protests by France, was the erection in the same 
year of Fort Carillon,^ upon the bold and rocky cliffs 
of Ticonderoga. This post, more menacing than the 
occupation of Crown Point to the British possession, 
and destined to a terrible celebrity, became the most 
extensive and magnificent fortress in America. 

"Accumulated acts of neglect and injustice of the 
mother country, such as these, prepared and matured 
the colonies for independence. Had they been cher- 
ished by the guardian care of England, they might 
have rested on her arm in effeminacy and depend- 
ence. Abandoned to the suggestions of their own 
policy, they were taught by these exigencies high and 
practical lessons of self-government. Compelled by a 
common danger to a mutual consultation and concert- 
ed action, they were admonished of the necessity and 
strength of a confederated union. Compelled to rely 
alone for protection and safety upon their own arms 
and energies, they were prompt to resist aggression 
and to avenge injuries. The deep fountains of their 
capacities were revealed to themselves, by the parsi- 
monious policy of England, that constrained the colo- 
nies to resort to their own domestic resources in their 
tection and defence. 

1 Carillon seems to imply the same signification as che-onderoga, the 
original of Ticonderoga — noisy chimes — in allusion, doubtless, to 
the brawling waters mid the rocks in tlie outlet of Lake George. 



THE CHAMPLAIN YALLEY. 17 

"Had Canada been a British Province, New Eng- 
land and jSTew York might have been exemp from 
the appalling scenes of carnage and suffering v,:]iich 
are since impressed on their history ; but the very ex- 
posure and danger of their position, and the assaults 
and cruelty of a powerful and daring enemy, endowed 
them with a lofty moral and physical courage ; with 
endurance in suffering; with boldness and wisdom in 
council, and promptitude and decision in action. These 
are the elements of freedom. Men who literally tilled 
the earth with the musket at their side, were ripening 
for any emergency, and prepared to defend the he- 
ritage endeared to them by their blood and sorrows, 
against every foe and any wrong. The career of the 
colonies, neglected, contemned and suffering, was to 
them a baptism of blood and sorrow, that conse- 
crated a free and ennobled spirit, equal to any sacrifice 
or any conflict. The wars into which the colonies 
were forced by this policy of England and the prox- 
imity of the French provinces, afforded the severe 
school for their military education. The shores of 
Lake Champlain afforded the nursery of future heroes 
of the Kevolution. The military spirit was here en- 
kindled, that in after years blazed at Bunker Hill, and 
Bennington, and Saratoga; and here, amid victory 
and defeat, the science and tactics of Europe were 
inculcated and diffused throughout the broad colo- 
nies. 

" If Washington was taught, on the banks of the 
Monongahela, to lead armies and to achieve the inde- 
pendence of his country, Putnam and Stark, Pomeroy 
and Prescott, amid the forests and morasses of Hori- 



18 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

con and Cliamplain, and beneath the walls of Ticon- 
deroga, were formed to guide and to conquer in the 
battles of freedom. Human wisdom, in her philoso- 
phy, may pause to contemplate these striking and 
singular coincidences, and to trace these causes to 
their momentous results ; but the eye of faith will 
reverence them, as the hidden workings of an overrul- 
ing and beneficent Providence, who, in these events, 
.was unfolding the elements and forming the agents of 
a mighty revolution, destined not only to sever a king- 
dom but to change the course of human events."^ 

My space will not allow me to recall the partizan 
achievements of Rogers, of Putnam and Stark; the 
wounds and captivity of Dieskeau, on a field whose 
memory swells and exults the American heart — for 
there the provincialists of the colonies, led by their 
own citizen, first met on an equal field and vanquished 
the trained veterans of Europe; nor the fame of John- 
son ; nor the heroic deaths of Howe and Townsend ; 
nor the bloody assault of Abercrombie ; nor the glory 
and shame of Montcalm^; nor the plodding endu- 
rance of Amherst; nor, in later years, the triumph 
of Burgoyne. These names all beam upon the pages 

1 Survey of Essex County, Trans. N. Y. Ag. Society, 1852, pages 668-69. 

■^ Montcalm is one of the most brilliant and heroic characters that 
glitters in our colonial history. His fame is obscured by one or two 
acts of imputed ferocity, from which it has never been successfully 
vindicated. Until its glorious last act, his life was one unbroken se- 
ries of triumphs and successes. A single episode will illustrate its 
picturesque and dramatic scenes. Preparatory to the attack upon 
Fort William Henry, he assembled at Montreal the Indian tribes, 
gathered from Lake Superior to Acadia. Montcalm moved in their 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 19 

of history. Deeds uccomplislied here, illustrate a 
brilliant age. In October, 1759, the naval armament 
of Amherst attacked the French flotilla, almost on the 
theatre, in another century, of MacDonough's victory, 
and in its destruction, extinguished the last vestige of 
the domination of France upon the waters of Cham- 
•plain. 

The massive ruins of Fort Carillon still attest its 
magnitude and strength. The course of the trenches 
of the outer works at Ticonderoga, may readily be 
distinguished. The line of the ramparts along the 
beetling clifls, is still visible ; parts of the battlements 
yet stand ; sections of the stone barracks are stand- 
ing; the bakery is in a state of good preservation and 
the magazine partially remains. At Crown Point the 
works are in better preservation. The mounds of St. 
Frederic may be discerned; the oven, the covered 
way and the magazine are easily distinguished. The 
fort erected by Amherst, with a lavish prodigality, 
might be restored. Portions of the vast quadrangular 
barracks yet stand. The walls are still quite perfect, 
but the buildings are roofless, without floors, and the 
beams charred and blackened. The traveler may read 
upon the walls the idle scribbling of the soldier more 

savage dances, brandishing the tomahawk as he chanted their war 
songs ; he captivated their hearts by his largesses and excited their 
fierce passions by visions of revenge and rapine. These warriors 
embarked in two hundred canoes, each bearing the pennon of a 
distinct tribe, and advanced with all barbaric pomp. The Catholic 
priests accompanied their neophytes, and while the Indian war chant 
strangely mingled with the hymn of the missionary, the flotilla passed 
up Lake Champlain to unite its rude forces with the veteran cohorts 
of Montcalm. 



20 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

than a century ago. Eacli room contains a broad and 
lofty fire-place. The garrison well, nearly one hun- 
dred feet in depth, is almost entire. The covered 
way leading to the lake, although much decayed, may 
still be traced. 

An ordinance of the king of France, in 1676, au- 
thorized the issuing of grants of land situated m 
Canada, attached to the crown. Assuming that the 
sovereignty of France embraced the borders of Lake 
Charaplain, the government of Canada caused a sur- 
vey to be made of the lake and the adjacent territory 
the year after the occupation of Crown Point. Many 
of the impressive and beautiful names of the islands, 
promontories and other topographical features are 
derived from that survey. Its labors also resulted in 
the publication, at Montreal, in the year 1748, of a 
map and chart, which have scarcely been equalled by 
any of a later date in its accuracy and scientific aspect 
and minuteness. Extensive grants, conferred under 
the ordinance of 1676, are delineated on that map, 
upon both sides of the lake. A seigniory was granted 
in 1737, to the Sieur Robert, which embraced the ter- 
ritory near the Boquet, subsequently patented to 
William Gilliland, and included a large proportion 
of the modern towns of Essex and Willsboro. The 
tract was soon after located and allotted by an oflicial 
surveyor; but we possess no distinct evidence that any 
of these grants were possessed in any permanent and 
tangible occupation north of Crown Point. 

When the peace of 1762 had been ratified by the ces- 
sion of Canada to GreatBritain, Lake Champlain was no 
longer the portal between hostile nations. A royal 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 21 

proclamation, of Oct. 7th, 1763, autliorizecl the colonial 
governors to issue grants of land upon the borders of 
the lake to the reduced officers and soldiers who had 
served in the Canadian campaigns. By the terms of 
these grants, the holders were empowered to make 
locations on any unappropriated lands. Numerous 
patents were issued in accordance with this proclama- 
tion, and many locations under them came in contlict 
with titles based on the grants established during the 
French intrusion. 

Stimulated by the immensely enhanced value of 
these lands, numbers of fictitious grants were asserted, 
and others revived, which had been repudiated by the 
French officials and forfeited by non-user ; while some 
had been held in honest suspension, awaiting the pro- 
gress of events. Another class, derived from the 
ordinance of France, and which had been preserved 
by actual possession, were recognized by the colonial 
government. Many of these were violated" by loca- 
tions of grants issued in pursuance of the royal pro- 
clamation of 1763. 

The adjustment of the conflicting rights of the 
patentees, under these adverse claims, was extremely 
embarrassing and difficult. The British authorities, 
in a proper regard to justice and public faith, suspended 
the issuing of all patents for lands situated north of 
Crown Point, claimed under any French grants. Eng- 
land, in great tenderness and liberality towards the 
claimants under these grants, refused to assume the 
obvious position, that the authority of France rested 
on mere usurpation, and her government possessing 
no risrhts on the shores of the lake, could neither 



22 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

create or convey any. Many of the French claims 
were ultimately rejected on account of the forfeitures 
of the conditions upon which their tenures depended ; 
others were compromised by grants to the claimants 
of land of equal value in Canada. 

These questions agitated the colonies for several 
years and produced anxious discussions in the royal 
councils at home. They necessarily retarded the pro- 
gress and impaired the prosperity of the region they 
affected. The multiplicity and magnitude of the grants 
issued under the proclamation of 1763 ; the existence 
of these conflicting interests, and the repugnance 
generally of the grantees of these rights, to locate and 
occupy them formally, combined to depress their value, 
and threw them in great numbers upon the market for 
sale. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 23 



WILLIAM GILLILAND. 

Sucli wastlae posture of the couutiywlien the atten- 
tion of William Gilliland, a prosperous merchant of 
New York, was attracted to it, with the view of large 
investments in the military rights referred to, and their 
location in that region.^ He was born about the year 
1734, of respectable parents, whose residence was 
Caddy, near the city of Armagh, Ireland. William 
was in childhood at the death of his father, who left 
several other children. His mother married a second 
time, a man named Watson, who, by improvidence or 
fraudulent practices, squandered most of the patrimony 
of the family. A remnant was preserved through the 
early intelligence and energy of young Gilliland. He 
had received a liberal education at the literary institu- 
tions in Armagh. His cultivated mind, fine person 
and polished manners, combined with excellent qual- 
ities of heart, soon secured him an elevated position 
and high esteem in the society of that city. He here 
became associated with a young lady of noble birth, 
and an heiress, the Lady Betsy Eckles. A mutual 
and warm attachment followed this acquaintance. 
The disparity of birth and fortune was an insuperable 
barrier to the fulfilment of their wishes. The oftended 

J I am chiefly indebted to the manuscript of Mr. Sheldon for the 
events recorded in the early life of Gilliland. 



24 THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 

family of the lad j interposed with so vigorous an ap- 
plication of power, as to effect her seclusion and, from 
some unexplained cause, the expatriation of Gilliland. 
Desponding, under these adverse events, he appears to 
have enlisted in the army, as the next trace I can dis- 
cern of him is afforded by his discharge at Philadel- 
phia, in 1758, from the 35th regiment of the line, after a 
service of four years. He soon after arrived in New 
York, where his pathway of life was environed by dark- 
ness and difficulties. But, with a sanguine tempera- 
ment and determined purpose, he grappled with for- 
tune. 

Such qualities usually command success. Gilliland 
very soon obtained a position, although a subordinate 
one, in a mercantile house. At an early day, he 
formed a partnership with a merchant of wealth, by 
the name of Phagan, who belonged to the island of 
Jamaica, but was at that time residing in 'New York 
for the purpose of educating his children. The keen 
and vigorous capacity of Gilliland, with his active and 
energetic character, secured eminent success in his 
new vocation. A year scarcely elapsed, before he had 
secured the affections of Elizabeth Phagan, the beau- 
tiful and accomplished daughter of his wealthy part- 
ner. On the 8th of February, 1759, he received her 
hand in marriage, with fifteen hundred pounds, as her 
dowry, which was esteemed a large sum in the colony 
at that period. The brilliant mercantile success which 
had rewarded the intelligence and enterprise of Gilli- 
land, did not satisfy his ambition. The recollection 
of the magnificent baronial estates of his native land, 
and the observation of the vast manors of the southern 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 25 

section of New York, enkindled the purpose of secur- 
incr to himself the possession of wide domains in the 
wikls of America. In his visions of the future, he 
doubtless contemplated the station of a great land- 
holder, exerting a feudal authority and enjoying afflu- 
ence and power, derived from a subservient tenantry. 
We may only conjecture, how much the desire of 
triumphing over those who once so severely rebuked 
his alleged presumption, may have stimulated these 
designs. His schemes embraced a broad scope, but 
their foundations were laid with such skill and fore- 
cast, and his measures conducted with so much ability, 
that none could reasonably doubt of their ultimate 
consummation. 

While this new career was opening to Mr. Gilliland, 
he be^an to develop those uncommon powers of mind 
and remarkable traits of character, which were calcu- 
lated to achieve a high position in the affairs of his 
adopted country. But instead of this, we shall see 
the storms of the Revolution sweeping in desolating 
tempests over his estates, and his fortunes at length 
blasted, by the violence of enemies, by the treachery 
of friends, and by accumulated woes. An opportunity 
soon occurred for the gratification of the designs 
which Gilliland had so long cherished. Numerous 
officers and privates who held rights under the pro- 
clamation I have mentioned, resided in the city of 
'New Yo|k. Many, unwilling to occupy the lands in 
the wilderness to which they were entitled, preferred 
to sell their claims at an exceedingly low rate. At 
that epoch, western and central New York was the 
domain of the Indian. Emigration had only peue- 
4 



26 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

tratecl its fertile regions along the valley of the Mo- 
hawk, and in a few and scattered settlements west of 
Albany. 

The environs of Lake Champlain were open to 
occupation and free from the appalling dread of a con- 
tiguous savage foe. Lying upon the confines of the 
great highway between the Canadian provinces and 
the British colonies, this region was easily accessible 
and eminently attractive, by the exquisite beauty of 
the country, from the fertility of many parts of it, and 
by the exuberance of its game and fish. In accord- 
ance with the plans he had matured, Gilliland, either 
personally or by competent agents, made a careful 
exploration of the borders of the lake, and deter- 
mined to purchase extensively, these military rights, 
and locate them in that region. He decided to 
place his first location on the lake shore, between the 
River Boquet and Split Rock, then, in his own lan- 
guage, "a howling wilderness, more than one hun- 
dred miles removed from any Christian settlement, 
except the military posts of Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point." 

His earliest purchase was from a Dr. Joseph Field, 
of 2,000 acres, for which he paid <£100. This right 
he located on the south side and adjoining the River 
Boquet. Subsequently, he made seven other purchas- 
es, embracing about 1,500 acres. These rights were 
laid in a contiguous tract, extending from a point about 
one-half a mile north of the river to James Judd's 
patent, near Split Rock, on a front upon the lake 
of more than six miles, and ranging from three to 
four miles in the interior. Mr. Sheldon says, "these 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 27 

purchases were made in 1764, and granted and sur- 
veyed the following year." 

" The plan of settlement adopted by Mr. Gilliland, 
was generally to hold the land in fee and lease to ten- 
ants at a small annual rent. To accomplish this policy, 
it was necessary to use extraordinary exertion and lib- 
erality, to induce people to emigrate so far from their 
friends and home into a strange and distant wilderness. 
Having made his arrangements for the purchases, he 
commenced preparations to transport his colony to his 
new possessions. With a clear-sighted perception of 
future necessities, he appears to have foreseen all 
things best adapted to the comfort and progress of 
the settlement, and with a generous liberality, to have 
ottered such inducements as soon enlisted a company 
of enlightened mechanics and enterprising laborers, 
such as were best fitted to assist and benefit each other 
and promote the general good. With assorted supplies 
of tools, implements, provisions, &c , he set out from 
New York, May 10th, 1768." 

From this date, we possess an exact chart for several 
years, of the current events connected with the policy 
and settlement of Mr. Gilliland, afforded by his minute 
journal, of a most valuable and interesting character, 
and also many other cotemporaneous papers. I pro- 
pose to present a rapid glance at the cccurrences 
illustrating his colonization, but the comments and 
explanations they suggest, I shall postpone, to be 
incorporated with the notes prepared to those docu- 
ments. 

Before proceeding, however, with this sketch, I will 
present a paper of very considerable interest, which I 



28 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

discovered among the writings left by Mr. Gilliland 
and bearing his initials. The address indicates the 
existence at that period, of an important benevolent 
institution, of wViich this age, I think, has no other 
information. The paper is strong and practical in its 
views, and its suggestions are marked b}^ the forecast 
and sagacity which distinguish all the early produc- 
tions of the author. 

March 1^' 1765 

To the Society for promoting Arts Agriculture and 

Aeconomy in the Province of New York 

Gentlemen — With great pleasure do I observe the 
attention you pay to the settlement of the wilderness 
lands in this Province ; this has been too long neglect- 
ed ; we have not availed ourselves of the many advan- 
tages which our convenient situation gave us over 
our neighbouring colonies, otherwise the interior and 
remote parts of our government would be more closely 
inhabited than theirs. 

I shall not enter into a tedious enumeration of the 
many and great advantages which must unavoidably 
redound to Great Britain, from the early settlement of 
the waste lands in America ; it is sufficient to observe, 
that by it the revenues of the crown are considerably 
augmented with the heavy Quit-rents which the lands 
are chargeable with after settlement, (particularly in 
this Province,) as are the inhabitants of Great Britain 
by the additional consumption of their manufactures, 
especialy in the woolen branch, which last we may 
reasonably suppose will be very great, as it is almost 
imposible for those who settle on new lands, to keep 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 29 

their sheep from being devoured by the wolves, and 
the other rapacious beasts of the wilderness ; even if 
there was good pasturage for them there ; and it is 
equally impossible for the inhabitants in the northern 
part of this Province to exist without warm coverings 
of woolen both night and day; in a word, it is absurd 
to imagine, that Great Britain would put herself to the 
vast expense of defending and protecting her domin- 
ions in America, with no other view than to suffer 
them to remain in their native wild and desert state, 
and thereby dedicate them to no other purpose, but to 
accommodate the savages and beasts of the forest. 

I now beg leave gentlemen to drop a hint to you 
concerning the settlement of the remote lands in this 
Province. 

Those I account remote, that are situated to the 
northward of Fort Edward ; but particularly those that 
lie farther north than the head of South Bay. 

It is not to be expected that people in good circum- 
stances will think of settling there, nor any indeed but 
those of the poorest sort. 

Let us therefore take such measures as may contri- 
bute to enable such to convey themselves with their 
families and effects to their intended residence in those 
parts, at the least expense. 

With respect to those who settle on the lands which 
lie between the head of South Bay and the northern 
bounds of this Province (which is an extent of coun- 
try not less than 150 miles in length) it is highly 
necessary to have the carriage made easy, in order, not 
alone for the particular accommodation of themselves 
and their families, but likewise that they may be in- 



30 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

duced to take their necessary household furniture and 
implements of husbandry from this city; hitherto and 
even now, the general thoroughfare is across Lake 
George, and from thence to Lake Champlain there is a 
troublesome long carriage; this extremely embarasses 
travelers, especialy those who are incumbered with any 
kind of effects, for it is with vast delay and difficulty they 
can obtain boats to convey them across Lake George ; at 
landing of Ticonderiga, they are vexatiously delayed 
and embaressed in getting their baggage or merchan- 
dize conveyed across the carrying place, and when 
they at length get to Ticonderigo fort with very great 
trouble, loss of time and expense they have still the 
greatest trouble and difficulty to surmount, in pro- 
curing boats to carry them from thence to Crown- 
point, where they will be as much at a loss as 
ever, if they have occasion to proceed further. This 
I ^peak from the experience of myself with many 
others. Li order therefore to avoid this Labyrinth of 
fatigue, anxiety, trouble, and expense, I would beg 
leave warmly to recommend South Bay as the most 
easy and natural thorough-fare from here to Lake 
Champlain. All that is wanting to render it a most 
convenient communication, is to finish a part of the 
road from Fort Edward to the head of South Bay and 
as this may be effected at a very trifling expense it 
ought to be completed this ensuing spring, as in all 
likelihood great numbers of people will go up to settle 
in those parts next summer. But as it would be of such 
general utility to the Province it ought to be done at 
the provincial charge and therefore by you gentlemen 
recommended to the notice of the General Assembly. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 31 

Thus might we convey our furniture, apparel trades- 
men tools and implements of husbandry from hence 
to Albany b^^ water; from thence to South Bay by an 
easy land carriage, only about seventy miles and there 
embark on board any vessel not exceeding two hun- 
dred tons burden, which would have a good navigation 
to the lands as far northerly as this Province extends ; 
and in respect to the particular encouragement which 
those ought to have from the Province who attempt a 
settlement even on its most northerly frontier, I hum- 
bly think the least that could be offered is to defray 
the expense of the transporting the people and their 
effects from hence to the land on whicli they settle, 
and to furnish the poorest of them with bread and salt 
for the first year ; and this our Representatives in 
Assembly would doubtless agree to, if it were recom- 
mended to their consideration by gentlemen who so 
highly merit their applause and esteem, as do the wor- 
thy members of the New York society. 

Before I conclude, please to accept of one thought 
which I hope you'll judge worthy of your considera- 
tion ; that is in regard to your proposed benificience of 
lending out looms, spinning-wheels and reels, to the 
poor which I conceive ought to have the first privilege 
as settlers in the most remote parts of the Province, 
and they chiefly for its principal object. 

I am Gent" • 

Yours &c. W. G. 

As I stated, Mr. Gilliland left New York on the 
10th of May, 1765. He reached Albany on the 13th, 
and was compelled to adopt another method of trans- 
porting his colony and their effects. He decided to 



32 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

proceed np theHndsontoFortEdwarclbjbatteaux,witli 
a part; while several of the men should drive the cattle 
which he had purchased and collected at Albany by land. 
He was obliged to procure the boats from Schenectady 
and transport tliem across the plains by wagons to the 
Hudson. The ascent of the river, against a rapid current 
and by a shallow and tortuous channel, was slow^ and ar- 
duous, but was accomplished by the toil of eight days. 
The cb'ove of cattle had alreadj'^ reached Fort Edward. 
He emploj^ed the oxen in the transportation of the 
goods from that place to Lake George, which occupied 
two clays. The sail down this beautiful and picturesque 
lake to the landing at Ticonderoga, required two days, 
and two more days were employed in the transit by 
land to Lake Champlain. Reembarking, the colony 
proceeded directly to the Boquet, which they reached 
on the 8th of June, after a laborious and perilous 
journey of thirty days from New York. One batteau 
was loaded with boards and timber at Ticonderoga. 
The saw mill which had been constructed during the 
French occupation, and which afforded so conspicuous 
a position at the assault of Abercrombie, still re- 
mained, and afforded the only means of procuring the 
materials in the region. After remaining at the 
mouth of the river to rest and prepare for their settle- 
ment, the colony proceeded up the river to an island 
liaTf a mile below the falls, where they encamped. 
They called it Camp Island, and the name has 
been perpetuated. Operations were at once com- 
menced in opening a road to the falls, and by the 15th 
of June, ground had been cleared, logs cut and the 
erection began of a house, 44 feet by 22 feet. This 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 33 

was the first dwelling built by civilized man between 
Crown Point and the line of Canada. 

The cattle, in the mean time, had been driven to 
Crown Point, and there swam the lake, and were 
again driven on the east shore to a point opposite 
Split Rock, which Mr. Gilliland, with more euphony, 
calls the Cloven Rock, and which was the Roche Rendu 
of the French, and were there ferried across the lake, 
by some transient " men of jSTew England," and pro- 
ceeded through the pathless woods to Willsboro' Falls, 
then without a distinctive name. A portion of the 
cattle were supported here upon leaves of the trees 
fallen in clearing the land, while the greater part were 
turned loose to find their own subsistence in the forest. 
On the first cursory examination of the falls, which 
from the supposed water power they formed, had been 
chiefiy instrumental in attracting Mr. Gilliland to the 
locality, the architect pronounced it " impracticable to 
erect mills there, except at vast expense." ''Upon 
which," he says, "we returned a good deal dejected 
to the people." This was the first and almost only 
note of despondency he uttered, amid the trials and 
perplexities of his early labors. The next day, after 
a more careful survey, it was announced "that several 
mills might be ei'ected there at small expense, which 
opinion was afterwards ascertained to be well founded." 

With characteristic ardor and prcmiptitude, the suc- 
ceeding day, the 10th of June, he records, " our four 
carpenters began to cut and square timber for the 
mill ; the other hands being employed in cutting wood 
for coals, clearing land, &c." The house and mill 
being in successful progress, every energy was im- 
5 



34 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

parted to the general improvement. The conntry was 
explored to determine its resources. Game was fomid 
abundant in the woods ; salmon thronged the river ; 
beaver meadows were discovered and hay made upon 
them to secure fodder for the approaching winter. The 
cattle, at the proper season, were driven to these mea- 
dows and most of the hay was consumed there. 

The saw mill was completed in the latter part of 
autumn. It was erected near the lower part of the 
falls, upon the site still occupied by a forge. The 
water was conducted to it through a flume, leading 
from a wing dam, which projected a part way across 
the river. The mill was constructed of the boards 
and timber brought from Ticonderoga. 

On the 23d of July, Mr. Gilliland, in company with 
the Rev. George Henry, a clergyman who had united 
with the colony at New York, left Milltown, on a visit 
to Quebec. He returned, bringing provisions and 
supplies from Montreal. Mr. Henry was attacked by 
a severe sickness and had remained in Canada. Mr. 
Gilliland, whose keen vision was always directed to the 
interests of his new possessions, stopped at the Sorel 
Eiver to examine its capacities, and with his own hand 
sounded several miles of the channel above its mouth, 
"because it communicated with Lake Champlain." 
He records in his jonrnal highly practical and judi- 
cious views on the subject of this navigation, and upon 
the qualities of the adjacent country. 

On his return, he devoted considerable time to the 
survey and establishment of the boundaries and num- 
bering pf a tier of lots, extending from the mouth of 
the Boquet along the shore of the lake to Judd's 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. - 35 

Patent. The work appears to have been executed 
with much skill and precision. His journal contains 
a minute record of the survey of twenty-live lots, rang- 
ing in their contents from one to two hundred acres, 
with the number, metes and bounds of each. Several 
of these lots were immediatel}^ taken up by settlers 
upon leases, but owing to the advanced season, no 
buildings were erected upon them until the next year. 

On the 6tli day of October, 1765, Gilliland com- 
menced the exploration of his domains lying north of 
the Boquet. His copious journal evinces that nothing 
escaped his vigilance, and that he examined the terri- 
tory with the science of an engineer, and with the 
most sagacious appreciation of its properties and re- 
sources. His tour extended to Cumberland Head. I 
find no difficulty in tracing his route from the accuracy 
of the descriptions embraced in his journal, and have 
identified the various localities by their modern names 
in my notes explanator}- of the journal. 

While engaged in this exploration, Gilliland ad- 
vanced up the An Sable river as far as its walled 
banks. In a highly correct and graphic description of 
that amazing scene, which may be classed among the 
natural wonders of the continent, we have the earliest 
notice of it, which probably exists. 

Mr. Sheldon states, that Gilliland had already located 
4,500 acres in the modern town of Westport, which 
he called Bessboro', from the name of a daughter. 
Several thousand more he laid out on both sides of the 
Salmon River. This location ^'lie named Janesboro,' 

1 It appears from a document wliich Las been preserved by the care 
of Dr. O'Callaghau, that Gilliland had, previous to his purchases, locat- 



36 • PIONEER HISTORY OF 

and that at Cumberland Head, Charlottesboro', after 
two other daughters. Elizabeth, the site of the beau- 
tiful village of Essex, was named from a wife or 
daughter ; Jimmy's Point, in the same vicinity, had 
reference to his brother James Gilliland. The town 
of Willsboro' yet commemorates his own name, and 
when it was divided, Elizabethtown perpetuated the 
memory of his wife. This practice of nomenclature 
flowed, doubtless, from those warm and active domes- 
tic aftections, of which we trace evidences in all the 
acts and sentiments of his life. Mr. Gilliland had, at 
this time, located twelve grants, seven of which were 
in Willsboro', two at Westport, and the remainder at 
Salmon river, in addition to his claims on Cumberland 
Head and in other localities. 

In November of this year, Gilliland returned to his 
family in ^N'ew York, with the purpose of removing 
them to his estate in the wilderness on the following 
spring. He left his affairs upon Champlain in charge 
of his half-brother, Watson, upon whom he confers 
the name and office of steward. The cattle which had 
been turned into the forest on the arrival of the colony, 
were reclaimed with difficulty on the approach of win- 
ter, and in a condition almost as wild as the native 
denizens of the woods. The first winter was spent by 
these pioneers in the pathless wilds of northern New 
York, without suftering or remarkable incident. Their 
time was pleasantly occupied in attending to their 
cattle, cutting and drawing logs to the saw mill, and 
in preparing timber for the construction of their build- 

ed a lot near Split Rock, which I presume was Soldier's donative from 
the Government. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 37 

ings. In January, 1766, the hay was drawn upon the 
ice to Milltown from a beaver meadow, two miles from 
Split Rock. A part of the settlers, discontented in 
their secluded wilderness homes, appear to have formed 
a combination, in the absence of Gilliland, to abandon 
the settlement, and to cancel forcibly their engage- 
ments and liabilities. Several of them on the first of 
March approached Watson, armed, and in a violent 
and menacing manner demanded the rendition of their 
notes and the payment of large fictitious claims, threat- 
ening in the event of a refusal to leave the settlement 
carrying with them all the property in their possession. 
The steward adroitly evaded their claims and privately 
proceeded to Crown Point, where he procured a file of 
soldiers, and returned to Willsboro'. He found the 
settlement in confusion. Two of the malcontents with 
their families and effects had left, and others were in 
active preparation for their flight to Canada, with their 
oxen shod and goods arranged. The cattle were seized, 
driven to Milltown "and stamped with the letters W. 
G." The fugitives were overtaken at Perue Bay, and 
the property recovered, but they for the time eftected 
their escape. Most of them appear ultimately to have 
returned to their allegiance. 

During the spring the supply of the colony began 
to fail, but were replenished by the steward from 
Crown Point. As soon as the opening season per- 
mitted the settlers applied all their exertion m erect- 
ing buildings and forming improvements upon their 
newly acquired farms. The first house upon these lots, 
according to the traditions of the country, was erected 
April 14th, 1766, for Robert McAuley, on the north 



38 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

bank of Bachellor's Creek ; others rapidly succeeded 
until the whole territory between the Boqiiet and Split 
Rock was studded by the neat cabins of the pioneers. 

Mr. Gillihind arrived at Milltown on the 22d of 
June with liis family and two batteaux, freighted with 
furniture and supplies.^ They left New York on the 
28th of April, but the journey had been thus protracted 
by his own severe sickness, and by a most afflictive 
incident. A batteau, which accompanied Mr. Gilli- 
land, containing the family of the Rev. Mr. Henry of 
Quebec, with a young and lovely daughter of Gilli- 
land, aged six years, became entangled in tlie top of a 
Mien tree, near Stillwater, and by the force of the 
current was upset and sunk. The daughter of Mr. 
Gilliland and a son of Mr. Henry were lost. 

The return of the proprietor infused a fresh spirit 
and imparted a new and vigorous impulse to the little 
commonwealth. Tlie colony advanced in prosperity 
and improvement. The saw-mill was in successful 
operation and supplied all the demands of the colony 
for lumber. A smithery had been erected. The gar- 
dens had been planted. . The government, political as 
well as moral, was in the exclusive control of the pro- 
prietor. Its administration seems to have been patri- 
archal, although we occasionally discern glimpses of 
an assumption of a feudal authority, which appears, in 
that age, to have been asserted to some extent by most 
of the remote large landholders of the colonies. Mr. 
Gilliland now held the office of justice of the peace, 

1 He records their arrival in ]iis journal and adds, with characteristic 
fervor, " Mrs. Elizabeth Gilliland, my spouse, being the first lady of 
our family that landed iu AVillsboro." 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 39 

conferred by the colonial government, wliicli, in this 
primitive society, endowed him witli a plenitnde of 
authority, that essentially embraced the functions of 
counselor, judge and chancellor. 

By a royal ordinance of October 7th, 1763, the pa- 
rallel of 45° north had been established as the boundary 
line betweeen l^ew York and the province of Quebec. 
This ideal line was indefinite and controverted. In 
September, 1766, Mr. Gilliland met at Crown Point 
" Sir Henry Moore, governor of New York, General 
Carlton, governor of Quebec, Robert Harper, Esq., 
astronomer to the expedition, Philip Schuyler, Esq., 
afterwards the eminent commander of the Revolution- 
ary army, Count Fredenburgh, and other gentlemen 
constituting a commission to establish that boundary." 
The refined manners and general intelligence of Gilli- 
land, combined with his great familiarity with the 
affairs of the district, attracted the consideration of 
the conmiissioners. He was received into the dis- 
tinguished circle, and invited to associate himself in 
their labors. He attended "the congress," as he terms 
it, bearing an ample supply of provisions for the use 
of the party. 

The result of this commission was the removal of 
the boundary about three miles north of the line 
originally projected by the French surveyors. The 
line thus established was recognized, until the com- 
missioners, under the treaty of Ghent, ascertained that 
the boundary run by the French survey was on the 
true line of the forty-fifth degree. This feet illustrates 
the superiority, which we find developed along the 
whole tract of our colonial history, of the French offi- 



40 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

cials, not only in their civil and military capacity, but 
in the attainments and skill of their scientific agents. 
On their return Governor Moore and suite visited 
Gilliland at Milltown. 

An incident occurred at this time which equally 
exhibits the decided character of Gilliland, and the 
habits of the age and country. He tells us in his 
journal that he "forewarned Fredenburgh against tres- 
passing on his lands opposite Valcour, in the presence 
of both governors." On the 9th, September, he makes 
this entry, "mustered up my men and set out, all 
being armed, for my lower tract, opposite Isle Valcour, 
to build a possession house, and to oppose Mr. Freden- 
burgh, should he attempt to make any encroachments 
on ray land there." The demonstration was success- 
ful. Fredenburgh made extensive locations, but avoid- 
ed the tracts claimed by Gilliland.^ 

1 Charles Fredexbuugh.^ — I am mainly indebted to the Hon. Peter 
S. Palmer, the historian of Lake Champlain, for the following facts 
in relation to Captain or Count Fredenburgh. The name in old 
documents is sometimes written Vredenburgh. Charles de Freden- 
burgh was a ne»dy German nobleman, who received about the year 
1706 from the English government a war/'awf for tliirty thousand acres of 
land, lying contiguous to the mouth of the Saranac River. Tradition 
accounts for this munificent grant, by the fact that Fredenburgh mar- 
ried a lady, who had held an intimate relation with a royal personage, 
and that the grant was the price of his servility. 

It appears that de Fredenburgh located and surveyed the tract 
and moved on to it soon after the warrant was issued. His warrant 
was never consummated by a patent. De Fredenburgh erected a 
dwelling house a few rods east of the lower bridge in the village of 
Plattsburgh, near the scite of the United States Hotel. He also built 
a saw-mill at the falls, which are still known as the Fredenburgh 
Falls, on the Saranac, about three miles from its mouth. He remain- 
ed upon these lands until about the commencement of the Pievolu- 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 41 

During the winter of 1767, Gilliland made an accu- 
rate and minute survey upon tlie ice, along tlie outer 
front of his possessions, and named the prominent 
topographical features. In the same season the first 
horse introduced into the colony was brought out for 
Mr. Gilliland from Canada, upon the ice. William 
McAuley, a relative of Gilliland, and one of his most 
efiicient coadjutors, occupied a farm where the village 
of Essex now stands. James Gilliland, a brother of 
the proprietor, and in later years a distinguished offi- 
cer in the American army, settled upon a lot on the 
north bank of the Boquet. 

]S'o exciting occurrence disturbed for several years 
the quiet progress of the colony. Their agricultural 
and industrial improvements continued to progress; 
the settlement gradually increased in population ; vari- 
ous conveniences and refinements of civilized society 
were introduced, and schools were established. The 
site of the first school-house is still pointed out. Occa- 
sional religious sei'vices were eujoyed. Albany county 
was divided in 1772, and the northern section embrac- 

tion, when he moved his family to Montreal, and returned to the 
Saranac to protect his property. A short time after his return the 
house and mill were burnt down. He mysteriously disappeared, and 
was supposed to have been murdered, in order to disguise the robbery 
of silver plate and other valuable property in his possession. 

In 1784 Zephaniah Piatt and thirty-two other proprietors, who 
had acquired the rights to soldiers' bounties, under the state act of 
1781, located these rights upon the land embraced by De Fredenburg's 
warrant. The boundaries of the Old Piattsburgh patent are precisely 
the same which De Fredenburg established under his grant. 

De Fredenburg's children, at a later period, applied to the legis- 
lature of New York, by petition, seeking to have their title to tlie 
tract recognized and established. The application, under the cir- 
cumstances, was necessarily fruitless. 

De Fredenburg was known and generally designated as the Count 
Fredenburg. 

6 



42 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

ing both sides of Lake Charaplain was organized into 
a new county, under the name of Charlotte. 

An event occurred in 1775, which is the most re- 
markable and interesting incident in the history of 
this humble colony, and singularly exemplified the 
tendency at the period of public sentiment towards 
democratic institutions, and its bias towards the ideas 
of self-government. 

This settlement it has been stated was embraced by 
the ideal boundaries of Charlotte county, but it pos- 
sessed no tangible or practical political organization. 
"Willsboro was not organized as a town until subse- 
quent to the Revolution. The colony was too remote 
to be reached by the protecting arm of the govern- 
ment; too unimportant to receive any specific legisla- 
tive action. The presence and ascendancy of some 
civil or political power was demanded in the changed 
condition and increased population of the district, by 
their common interest and for their mutual protectior 
and safety. Under these circumstances the settlers con- 
vened by general consent, on the 17th of March, in an 
assembly, and constituted themselves in eft'ect into a 
pure democracy. At this popular convention it was de- 
termined for several practical economical purposes to 
institute a local government. A system of social regu- 
lations was matured, formally adopted and ratified by 
the individual signatures of the settlers. It was made 
imperative upon all, and each was pledged fo abide by 
its provisions "by every tie of honor and honesty." ^ 

In contemplating this singular and impressive inci- 
dent, the mind instinctively reverts to the cabin of the 
Mayflower. This covenant embraced a far humbler 

1 This remarkable instrumout and the proceedings under it, appear 
in the journal of Gilliland under tlieir appropriate dates. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 43 

scope than the compact of 1620, yet its spirit was the 
same, and actuated by the holy idea of free, self-im- 
posed government. The officers of the association thus 
constituted, comprised a moderator, two superinten- 
dents of roads and bridges, three appraisers of damages, 
and a town clerk. "William Gillilaud was elected the 
first moderator. Some of the other officers it was 
resolved should perform their duties assisted by Mr. 
Gilliland. He was always recognized as a distinct and 
superior power in the colony. The earliest act of this 
privitive organization was an ordinance authorizing 
the construction of a bridge, by a tax to be paid in 
labor, and assessed upon the basis of property. Such 
was the ostensible and perhaps actual purposes of this 
popular movement. When, however, we reflect upon 
the condition of the colonies — ^the whole country agi- 
tated by the premonitorj^ throes of the volcano, which 
burst into a flame the succeeding month at Lexington, 
and that scarcely fifty days intervened between this 
event and the capture of Ticonderoga by Allen ; we 
cannot resist the conjecture that Gilliland at least con- 
templated higher and far different objects. His prom- 
inent position, his ardent patriotism, impassioned cha- 
racter, seem to justify this view. It is evident that he 
was familiar with the political movements of the 
period, and he was probably preparing the opinions 
of this secluded population to be moulded and con- 
trolled by his policy. Perhaps I may impute too 
m.uch significance to this event. 

A project, it is believed, had been for sometime agi- 
tated, which in its success would have formed a promi- 
nent feature in the annals of this colony, and been an 
event of grave interest and importance in the political 
history of the country. A scheme in which Gilliland 



44 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

and the elder Skeene were the conspicuous agitators 
was discussed and essentially matured, which contem- 
plated the organization of a new colonial province. Its 
proposed limits were to extend from the St. Lawrence 
to the Connecticut, and resting at the north on the 
Canada line with an undetermined southern boundary. 
Skeene was to receive the appointment of governor of 
the projected province, and Crown Point was to be 
made its capital. 

I have formed my own convictions of the actuality 
of this scheme not alone from the traditions on the 
subject, nor the assurances of those who profess to 
have read documents which elucidated the whole mat- 
ter, but on other forcible considerations.^ 

The aspect at that period of the controversy relative 
to the Hampshire Grants rendered such an occurrence 
more than probable. Cotemporary annals appear to 
recognize the existence of some project of an analogous 
character and purpose.^ The diplomatic expedient of 
Allen, by which he asserted a claim to all Northern 
New York, may have been suggested by this idea. 

1 'William Gilliland, the son of the pioneer, who at the commence- 
ment of the Revolution, was a boy of fourteen, and died at Salmon 
river in 1847, assured Mr. Sheldon that this project was a theme of 
frequent conversation with his father. That he had often himself 
read the correspondence between Skeene and his father on the subject, 
and that he had the letters of Skeene still in his possession. Mr. Gilli- 
land, who was a gentleman of great intelligence, engaged to find the 
letters and submit them to Mr. Sheldon, but he soon after died with- 
out having opportunity to fulfill the engagement. With the permis- 
sion and aid of the Messrs. Gilliland, who reside at Salmon River, on 
the original estate, I have carefully examined the family papers, but 
found no trace of these documents. I learn that on the death of the 
younger Gilliland a portion of his papers passed into the hands of 
another member of the family, and I have been unable to procure a 
further trace of them. 

2 Williams's iTi'v'^ Vermont,- Haskins's t/o. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 45 

Skeene, it is known, about this period visited England 
on some important political mission, and was upon 
his return to America, on the verge of the Revolu- 
tion, clothed, as he alleged, with the appointment "of 
Governor of Crown Point and Ticonderoga." ^ In 
this designation of the title of his government, is it 
not probable that he merely referred to these fortresses 
as prominent points embraced within his jurisdiction? 

Crown Point, it is asserted, was to be the capital of 
the projected province. This idea strengthens alike the 
opinion I have attempted to enforce of the importance 
of Crown Point at that period, and attaches form and 
coherence to this scheme. Skeene was at that time 
in possession of a large landed estate, not only at 
Skeensboro, but at other points in the environs of 
Lake Champlain. He held a tract in Essex county 
still known as Skeene's Patent. 

The consummation of this design might have in- 
volved the most momentous and sinister results at that 
peculiar epoch, when the contest between Vermont 
and JSTew York had acquired its deepest rancor and 
perilous vehemence. An occurrence of deep import 
suddenly dissolved all these visions of political pur- 
poses and speculations, for years arrested the progress 
of the miniature republic, whose embryo we have 
just been contemplating, and dispersed widely its 
people. A blow had been struck upon the shores of 
Champlain, which not only vibrated through the 
broad colonies, but was felt within the palatial walls 
of St. James. 

1 Skeene's letter to Hawlcy, March 15, 1775. 



46 PIONEER HISTORY OF 



THE EEVOLUTION. 

Haldibrancl, the governor of Crown Point and Ti- 
eonderoga, had announced to the government in 1773, 
that the fort at Crown Point "was entirely destroyed,", 
and that at Ticonderoga, in a "ruinous condition," 
and that both "could not cover fifty men in winter." 
The appeal to arms, which in April, 1775, had sounded 
from the plains of Lexington, seems to have sug- 
gested, simultaneously, to various patriotic individuals 
in the colonies, the idea of capturing these important 
fortresses in their dilapidated and exposed condition. 
Members of the provincial legislature of Connecti- 
cut on their individual responsibility raised funds to 
effect this object, and appointed a committee to pro- 
ceed to the scene, and to attempt thg execution of the 
plan. In the county of Berkshire a small force was 
collected, but at Bennington the fearless spirit and 
powerful influence of Ethan Allen was enlisted in the 
enterprise. An intrepid band of two hundred and 
seventy volunteers, all of whom except forty belonged 
to the Green Mountains, w^ere collected at Castleton 
on the 7th of May. At this moment Arnold, invested 
with plenary powers from the Massachusetts commit- 
tee of safety to accomplish the same object, appeared 
on the scene, and claimed the command of the expe- 
dition. A contest ensued which threatened to defeat 
the whole design, but was terminated by the troops 
refusing to proceed except under the lead of Allen, 
their tried and cherished leader. Arnold was con- 
strained to yield, and joined the force as an aid to the 
commander. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 47 

The garrison of Ticonderoga was slumbering in 
profound security. To procure means of crossing the 
hake, Coh Jlerrick had been sent to Skeenesboro, and 
Remember Baker was to join them with boats from 
Otter creek ; but when the troops reached Shoreham 
neither had appeared. Seizing such vessels as could 
be procured, Allen boldly decided to cross. The land- 
ing was effected at a little cove, a mile north of the 
fort. When the morning dawned only eighty-three 
men had reached the western shore : yet Allen, know- 
ing how much delay would imperil the issue, decided 
to advance at once to the assault. I need not repeat 
the story. The fortress, which had cost so much 
blood and treasure, was won by the little band in a 
bloodless triumph, " in the name of Jehovah and the 
Continental Congress." Crown Point, which was 
held by a mere sergeant's guard, was immediately 
occupied. We have no evidence, beyond the legend 
of the country, of a participation by Gilliland in these 
momentous events, except his own decisive language, 
in his remarkable memorial addressed to congress. 
This document, so valuable intrinsically, and which 
sheds such light on the history of Gilliland, will be 
introduced in subsequent pages, in connection with 
the journal. He says: "Your memorialist has reason 
to think that he was the first person who laid a plan 
for and determined upon seizing Ticonderoga and 
Crown Point, and the king's armed vsssels, and there- 
with the entire command of Lakes George and Cham- 
plain. That by means of your memorialist, an un- 
happy dispute which subsisted between Mr, Allen and 
Mr. Arnold (the then rival heads of our handful of 
people on Lake Champlain), was composed. In con- 
sequence of which, your memorialist (besides several 



48 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

other matters) took tlie liberty of recommending to 
your honors, the embodying of the Green Mountain 
boys. Col. Allen delivered the letter." 

In another part of this memorial, he relates incidents 
corroborative of the idea I have suggested. He says, 
"the only association agreement entered into; the only 
company of minute men, formed on either side of 
Lake Champlain, your memorialist established on his 
settlement, and for example sake stood in the ranks 
himself and did his utmost endeavors to introduce 
the like among all the other settlements at or near the 
lake, and finally every third man of his tenants en- 
tered into his country's service." A Mr. Pierson, re- 
siding in Shelburn, Vermont, directly opposite Wills- 
boro, acted with Gilliland in this patriotic movement.^ 

It is difficult to suppose that so conspicuous an in- 

1 The settlements of Gilliland and Piei'son, although on opposite 
shores of the lake, constituted socially one neighborhood — neither 
had any connection by roads with other colonies. The company of 
minute men consisted of about thirty men from the west side and fifteen 
from the east side of the lake. Gilliland was chosen captain and 
Pierson lieutenant. They appear to have been active and efficient in 
the performance of their voluntary duties. When the reverses to the 
American arms occurred in Canada, Gilliland felt compelled to aban- 
don liis possessions, but Pierson and his friends determined to remain 
and secure their crops, unless constrained to leave by an irresistible 
force. A bold promontory, surrounded by perpendicular cliffs, and 
connected with the main land by a low, narrow strip of land, which was 
overflowed at high water, stood contiguous to the farm of Pierson, on 
a plat of ground upon this promoutorj', hidden by a thick hedge of ce- 
dars. Pierson constructed here a block house as a place of refuge in case 
of attack, while gathering his harvests. The Indians and Tories soon 
assailed the settlers and laborers in the field, who fled to the block 
house for safety. A regular attack was made upon the block liouse, 
which was continued several days. Pierson lost several men, but re- 
pulsed the enemy with the infliction of a severe loss. Two of his sons 
were afterwards made prisoners and confined in the fort at Chambly 
Ilapids. — Mr. Sheldon^ s Mamiscript. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 49 

dividual, of ardent and avowed patriotic sentiments, 
whose position and local infiaence would have render- 
ed so important a coadjutor, should not have been acces- 
sory to these proceedings. It is certain, that his zeal 
and activity marked him at an early day as a victim 
to be pursued by the special vengeance of government. 
He enjoyed with a very limited number of patriots, 
the eminent distinction of being by name, proscribed 
and outlawed. A proclamation was issued by the gov- 
ernor of Canada in the June succeeding this memorable 
event, offering a reward of live hundred dollars for the 
arrest of Gilliland, and his rendition to the govern- 
ment. The allurements of this reward overcame the 
patriotism and fidelity of some of his tenants, who en- 
gaged in unsuccessful efforts to sieze and convey him 
to Canada. Unsuccessful attempts were made to seduce 
his household slaves into schemes for his betrayal.^ 
Various other efforts were made to effect his capture, 
but the most formidable, which was nearly accom- 
plished, was made by a sheriff of Tryon county, who 
secretly penetrated into the settlement "with four 
tories and three savages." Gilliland not only escaped 
the peril with great adroitness, but succeeded in effect- 
ing the surprise and "capture of the whole party with 
all their arms, and sent them prisoners to Crown Point." 

' His son and a daughter were in Canada, at school, at the com- 
mencement of hostilities. They were retained nearly six years, as a 
restraint upon the acts of Gilliland. The character of Gilliland, his 
intimate knowledge of the frontier, his great influence created by 
his intellectual superiority, the extent of his possessions, and the num- 
ber of dependant tenants, rendered him by far the most prominent in- 
dividual upon the shores of the lake. This was the cause of the ex- 
treme solicitude of the government to control his influence, — Mr. 
Sheldon's Manuscripts. 

7 



50 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

In the meanwhile, Allen and Arnold had achieved 
for the provincial arms, an ascendency upon the lake. 
In a communication to congress, June 7th, 1775, Allen 
utters this vigorous and animated language. " I would 
lay my life on it, that with fifteen hundred men, I 
would take Montreal." Congress wavered and hesi- 
tated until the opportunity was lost, and then too late, 
adopted the plan he had suggested. An army of two 
thousand men was collected at Crown Point and Ti- 
conderoga, under the successive command of Schuyler 
and Montgomery, and amply equipped, it advanced from 
these fortresses on its impracticahle and disastrous 
mission. 

"While this expedition was in progress, and partic- 
ularly after the retreat of the American army from 
Canada, the dwellings and the garners of Gilliland 
and his tenants, were freely opened to receive the sick 
and wounded, and in relief of the necessities of the 
troops. His memorial to congress, presents this graphic 
recital of his services and sacrifices. " That in testimony 
of your memorialist's warm attachment to, and hearty 
afleotion for your northern army, he embraced every 
opportunity of rendering them all the encouragement 
in his power. From the general down to the sentinel, 
he has entertained three or four thousand men at his 
own expense — he never charged a cent for vegetables, 
salmon, milk, or anything else he had to spare them — 
has supplied a numerous company under Capt. Lamar, 
with bread and meat, as long as he or his settlers had 
a pound, during a long stay which they were obliged 
to make at his place, and thereby reduced his and the 
families of his tenants to sufferings they were before 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 51 

unused to ; had every deserter which appeared at his 
settlement, taken up and sent to the army ; has lain 
weeks together on straw in a common room, that sick 
and wounded officers and soldiers that were sent to, or 
stopt at his house, might be more comfortably accom- 
modated, sometimes taking them to Ticonderoga (45 
miles distant) at his own charge, and had every sol- 
dier who died at his settlement interred in decent cof- 
fins with the honors of war." 

In a petition addressed to General Gates, and dated 
at Albany, August 20th, 1777, Gilliland, rcapitulates 
many of the facts and views presented to congress in 
his memorial, and embraces in strong language a nar- 
rative of the events connected with the requisitions of 
the national officials, and the seizure of his property 
for the public use. He states, " that previous to the 
retreat of our army from Canada, your petitioner, 
being apprehensive of danger from the enemy, re- 
moved his children and most valuable effects to the 
neighborhood of Crown Point, and returned home to 
take care of his other property, where he continued 
until General Sullivan arrived from Canada, at your 
petitioner's river, with our dispirited, sickly army, 
who represented to your petitioner how much his 
army in general stood in need of milk and fresh meat, 
and also the probability of a pursuit being made by 
the enemy. He recommended and indeed ordered 
our immediate removal, with our cattle and such other 
effects as we could by that opportunity get off, lest the 
enemy should be comforted or aided by our cattle and 
other provisions, leaving Colonel (now General) Stark 
to see his orders put in execution. On which occasion 



52 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

your petitioner and some of his tenants, brought to 
Crown Point all the cattle that could be brought in the 
vessels and boats, amounting to near one hundred head, 
and shortly after about twenty head more were remov- 
ed by a party under Lieut. Hartley ; many of which cattle 
are yet unpaid for, though they have been doubtless 
made use of by our army either at Crown Point or 
Ticonderoga. That pursuant to the plan proposed by 
your petitioner to your honor, and which met with 
your approbation, your petitioner returned home to 
preserve his crops, taking with him the three men, 
with whom you were pleased to assist him (whose wages 
he has paid) and some other hired men, who with hiso^n 
slaves cut and secured a considerable part of your peti- 
tioner's crops, and of those of several of his tenants, 
who were moved away considerably indebted to him 
and whose crops were his only security, having no 
other prospect of payment but from their being pre- 
served. 
" Thatyourpetitioner, besides expending considerable 
sums on the above mentioned business, exposed his 
life and liberty, and also his slaves to very great dan- 
ger, during his stay at Willsborough, thirty miles on 
the outside of our most advanced post, without any 
other guard, than the precarious appearance of scout- 
ing parties from Crown Point; during which stay your 
petitioner w^as visited by Maj. Hay, A. D. Q. M. G. 
(about 15th, Sep.) who having thoroughly advised the 
measure, at length prevailed on your petitioner to 
make sale of the whole crops to him, for the use of 
the army, and made an unconditional purchase thereof, 
at such low prices as he thought fit to ofter, with the 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 53 

promise however, tbat he would pay your petitioner 
as much liigher prices as then offered as he should 
thereafter pay to any other for like articles. By agree- 
ment the grain was to be threshed by the public, they 
getting the straw for that labor, and the whole to be 
by them removed without any expense or trouble to 
your petitioner, who was informed by Maj. Hay, that 
he made that purchase by your honour's order and 
that the terms of agreement met your approbation. 

" That there was plenty of time to remove the whole 
of those crops both before our fleet was defeated and 
after the enemy returned to Canada before the lake 
took, but that your petitioner never heard that any 
attempt was made for that purpose, during either of 
those times. That when the agreement was made by 
Maj. Hay with your petitioner, it certainly was never 
mentioned or intended by either party, that your peti- 
tioner should stand insurer for the public, till they 
thought fit, if at all, to send for the things purchased. 
A proposal of that kind would have been so preposter- 
ous and absurd that it was neither made by Maj. Hay, 
nor would it have been listened to by your petitioner 
in any other light than to take an ungenerous advan- 
tage, which Maj. Hay would from his heart despise 
being the author of, and which your petitioner would 
never have agreed to." 

The retreat of the American troops from Canada, 
and the apprehended advance of Carlton, spread uni- 
versal consternation and panic. The waters and all the 
environs of the lake were exposed to the incursions of 
the British forces and the sanguinary ravages of their 
tory and savage allies. The settlement on the Bouquet 



54 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

was peculiarily liable to these assaults, alike from its 
comparative wealth and prominence and by its adv^anc- 
ed and exposed position. Most of the settlers hastily 
abandoned their forms and improvements, the results 
of years of toil and expenditure, and fled with the little 
property they could bear with them, within the Ameri- 
can lines. Few ever returned to their homes in the 
wilderness. Others embracing the amnesty ottered by 
the British commander, sought protection and safety 
beneath the flag of the enemy. Some of this class be- 
came active partizans of England, and by their local 
knowledge proved valuable and efiicient auxiliaries. 

The stern necessities of tlie times constrained Gilli- 
landto convey his family, and such of his valuable fur- 
niture and eftects as he could transport to the Ameri- 
can fortresses. The machinery and irons attached to 
his mills, and other ponderous articles, were sunk in 
the river and lake, or buried in secret repositories. 
These depositories were afterwards revealed by the 
recreant tenant, to the enemy, and all the valuable pro- 
perty was seized by them and confiscated.* 

When this tempest swept over and desolated the 
colony, it was smiling in beauty and wealth. The toil 
and disbursements of eleven years, had subdued the 
forest and established in this wilderness, culture and 
the mechanic arts. Farms, teeming with flocks and 
herds, and redolent with the promises of luxuriant har- 
vests, spread from Split Rock to the Bouquet. Broad 
fields enclosed by permanent fences, — comfortable 

1 These articles thus appropriated by the British, were worth two 
hundred pounds, according to the estimate of Gilliland. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 55 

tenements surrounded by orchards, gardens and out- 
buildings, attested their prosperity and assured com- 
fort and competency to the settlers. Roads and bridges 
facilitated their intercourse ; a benign sj'stem of tenure 
promoted their progress. Justice, moderation and li- 
berality, conferred protection and security to their indi- 
vidual rights. Gilliland represented to congress, that 
the settlement when it was broken up and abandoned, 
contained "twenty-eight dwelling houses, about forty 
other buildings, two grist mills, two saw mills, gar- 
dens, orchards, fences, &c.," and that "he enjoyed an 
annual income from the property of more than one 
thousand pounds," 

A large indebtedness had been incurred to Mr. Gilli- 
land, by the munificent aid he extended to the poor 
and struggling colonists, and for the payment of which 
their crops and improvements afforded his only secu- 
rity. These resources were suddenly extinguished, 
and in the period of a few months, the herds, the struc- 
tures, the embellishments of art and industry, were 
all overwhelmed in a common ruin. 

In addition to these calamitous visitations, strange 
and unexpected trials accumulated upon the heart of 
Gilliland, cares and anxieties. The perils and exigen- 
cies of the times invoked the most active vigilance, 
and often subjected the patriotic to unjust suspicion 
and invidious surveillance. Although the patriotism 
of Gilliland had been so enthusiastic, and had been 
manifested by such efficient services and so deep suffer- 
ing, he was not exempt from the consequence of these 
jealousies. The acts of the tenants, whose defection 
I have noticed, and over whom he was supposed to 



56 .PIONEER HISTORY OF 

exert SO potent an influence, reflected a suspicion upon 
himself. The suhjoinecl letter of Col. Hartley was 
undoubtedly justified by these circumstances. 

Col. Hartly to Gen. Gates.^ 

Crown Point, July 24th, 1776. 

Sir: I have understood fron^ several quarters, that 
which inclines me to apprehend, that the supposition 
that Gilliland and some others had sent down one Ed- 
ward Watson, and another to St. John's, had some 
foundation. They doubtless carry any intelligence 
they have to the enemy. It has just been intimated 
to me that Gilliland and Jack Watson, with one Mc- 
Auley, all relations, have had a hint that they are sus- 
pected. This may induce them to send a canoe or 
boat to warn the two men of their danger in return- 
ing, or to make their own escape. I have ordered a 
party of about twenty-five men to set off" in a boat to- 
wards Cumberland Head, to intercept the eight Indians 
and the Canadian on their way back to St. John's, or 
the two rascals in the canoe, who are gone to St. John's, 
in their return to Willsborough, and also to favour 
Capt. Wilson's retreat. Hays and the men mentioned 
in my letter of this day, ought in my opinion, to be 
secured. You will judge of the proper time. I hope 
my conduct will meet with your approbation. 
I am, sir, your most humble servant, 

Thomas Hartley. 

P. S. The party will set ofi" to-night or to-morrow 
morning early, unless countermanded. 

'Am. Arch. 5th Series, i, 564. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 57 

The following extract from a general order issued 
by Gates, a week subsequent to the date of the above 
communication, b}^ which the claims of Gilliland for 
indemnity were submitted for investigation to officers 
ofsuchhighcharacterasSt. Clair and Wayne, furnishes 
evidence equally of the magnitude and respectability 
of these demands, and of the fact that Gilliland was ex- 
onerated in the mind of Ge*n. Gates, from the imputa- 
tion conveyed in the letter of Col. Hartley. We pos- 
sess no knowledge of the result of the proposed en- 
quiry, or whether any action occurred under the order. 
The silence of Gilliland and of the Archives on the 
subject, warrant the presumption, that either the pub- 
lic exigency demanded different services by the mem- 
bers of the court, or that from some other cause, the 
inquiry was not pursued. 

Extract from a General Order} 

Head Quarters, July 31st, 1776. 
Col. St. Clair, Col Wayne and Mr. Avery, the Dep- 
uty Commissary-General, to sit this afternoon at four 
o'clock, as a Court of Inquiry, to examine into certain 
demands made upon the United States, by Mr. Gilli- 
land and Maj. Udney Hay, A. D. Q. M. G. They 
will certify such as they think just and reasonable, 
that the demands of the claimants may be adjusted 
and settled." 

This difficulty could scarcely have been composed, 
when an incident transpired that involved far more 

J Am, Arch. 5th Series, i, 801. 



58 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

serious and enduring consequences. The following let- 
ter fromGillilaud to Arnold, discloses tbe original cause 
of their collision. Its calm and conciliatory language 
surprises, when we consider the singularly vehement 
and irascible temperament Gilliland so frequently ex- 
hibits. The courteous proffer of civility due to the 
amenities of their positions, should have exacted for- 
bearance and attention to the claims of Gilliland. 
The extent of the actual losses of which he complained 
were not large, estimated by ordinary circumstances, 
but in his situation, and in that remote wilderness 
where all resources had been wasted by the ravages of 
war, the supplies which were seized, and the property 
wantonly destroyed, were of great positive value, and 
of inestimable importance to the comfort and suste- 
nance of his family. 

William Gilliland to Gen. Arnold} 

September 1st, 1776. 
Sir: The troops and sailors accompanying you on 
your cruise, this day week, have wantonly and wick- 
edly committed great destruction on several of my 
plantations on this settlement. They have forcibly 
raised two fields of potatoes that, if full grown, would 
have filled two hundred bushels; an acre of peas are 
entirely destroyed, which would have 3'ielded sixteen 
to twenty bushels ; five or six acres of corn are ruined ; 
about ten dollars worth of smith's tools, and a multi- 
tude of other irons; two pleasure sleighs, five new 
sash windows, a new bedstead and bedcord, several 
chairs and many other articles, they have carried off", 

1 Am. Arch. 6th Series, 11, 112-13. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 59 

tearing houses, breaking doors, and committing every 
villany in the most insolent and licentious manner, 
-even before my servant's face, whom I sent to guard 
these things, telling them it was by order of the offi- 
cers they came for the vegetables, and have them they 
would, were I present myself This was a bad return 
for seventy-five salmon given to them and Capt. Alex- 
ander's people on that and the preceding day. As I 
am convinced you would not by any means, counte- 
nance such proceedings, I rely and request you will 
have immediate justice done me, by ordering a survey 
or inquiry to be made to ascertain the amount of my 
damage. You may easily remember how Gen. Gates 
served Capt. Romans for suffering some of his men to 
pull up a few potato hills near Ticonderoga. • It grieves 
me to see my crops destroyed, for whose preservation 
I came here, and remain here at the risk of my life, 
and those crops on the deserted lots are all the pay I 
shall probably ever get from those by whom they were 
formerly occupied, who owed me very considerable 
sums of money, and many of whom have died since 
their removal. The others gone down the country. 
I shall hope for your ready compliance, and that you 
will believe me to be very respectfully, sir, your most 
obedient humble servant. 

Will. Gilliland, 
To Gen. Arnold. 

P.-S. My salmon crib and all its apparatus were 
carried off last Monday night by the violence of a very 
great flood. If your carpenters could be spared to as- 
sist me one day or two, I should very soon be able to 
send you some salmon. W. G. 



60 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

If the men belono-ino- to the vessels are suffered to 
come ashore where there are settlements, 'twill be im- 
possible to prevent their doing mischief. Besides what 
I have mentioned above, the people belonging to one 
of the gondolas went ashore last Sunday afternoon to 
Point Pleasant Bay, three and a half miles south of 
my river, and not finding any of my people there, car- 
ried off five of my blankets, which my people left in a 
barn there where they lodged whilst reaping near that 
place. These things could not possibly have all been 
taken on board without the knowledge of the officers. 

Arnold appears to have made no response to this 
appeal, and Gilliland, always impetuous and determin- 
ed, and revolting at injustice and oppression, had prob- 
ably carried his complaint to a higher tribunal. This 
course must have constrained Arnold's notice of the sub- 
ject. After an interval of four weeks he communicates 
the original letter of Gilliland, to Gen. Gates: and pre- 
sents charges against Gilliland of disloj^altj^, and the 
commission of frauds upon the government. The friv- 
olity and transparent malignity of these charges, are 
apparent, from the documents themselves. 

Gen, Arnold to Gen. Gates} 

Isle Valcour, Sept. 28th, 1776. 
Enclosed is the deposition of Thomas Bay, which I 
took at Crown Point when I came down. I have since 
examined a Frenchman and his wife who live opposite 
the Isle la Motte, who says that Ned Watson and 
Wykes, came to his house and there met Capt. Frazier 

» Am. Arch. Stli Series, n, 592-3. 



. THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 61 

wlio Avas in pursuit of some deserters ; tbey told Fra- 
zier they were sent down by Gilliland and Watson, 
and acquainted liira of Capt. Wilson's and his party 
being on the lake, in consequence of which he was 
taken. The Frenchman also says that about a fort- 
night past two men whom he knew to be Gilliland's 
tenants, came to his house, said they were sent down 
by Gilliland with intelligence ; that they appeared in 
a great hurry, and oifered him five dollars to set them 
over Missisqui bay as their canoe was leaky, which he 
did. This is partly confirmed by Mr. Hay, who lives 
opposite this island, and says that one Cross and Scarr 
came to his house about a fortnight past, and supposes 
they went to St. John's. Scarr was a servant to Mac- 
awday, who, with Cross, were tenants to Gilliland. I 
am fully of opinion that Gilliland, John Watson, and 
Macawlay, have from time to time sent expresses to 
the enem3% andgiven them all the intelligence in their 
power, and no persons have known our afl'airs better. 
I make no doubt that the enemy have often been har- 
boured at the houses of the first and last. I have there- 
fore ordered to take them prisoners to Ticonderoga, 
that you may examine and dispose of them as you 
think proper. I dont think it is prudent to let them 
remain on their farms, unless we choose the enemy 
should know all our measures. Gilliland is a most 
plausible and artful villain. Enclosed isaletter of com- 
plaintwhichhe wrote me afterthe fleet passed his settle- 
ment, not one syllable of which is true. One Mr, Dujuit, 
a tenant of his, wdio had left his place, went up with the 
fleet, and oft'ered me some vegetables, which he said 
would be lost if I did not accept them. I sent some 



62 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

boats on sliore under the direction of Capt. Dunn. 
The wliole stutt' that was brought off, was not worth 
forty shillings. No other boats from the fleet were on 
shore. As we returned to Button Mould bay the next 
morning, and on our going down the lake the second 
time, only one boat was on shore, and the few vegeta- 
bles taken were from forms deserted, of which I believe 
Gilliland has no right. His complaint appears more 
groundless than that about his cattle, for which he was 
paid two or three times, and carried them home at 
last. * * * * 

The Testimony of Thomas Day, examined on oath be- 
fore Robert Leavis, one of the Justices of Charlotte 
County, in the Province of New York. 

Who saith that sometime in the beginning of July 
last, being in company with William Gilliland Esq. 
and William Wykes, he heard said Wykes say that he 
was not afraid to go to St. John's, to the Regulars, 
and that it appeared to him from their intimacy and 
being frequenth' together, and from sundry expressions 
of Gilliland's, that he contrived the plan of Wykes 
and Ned Watson's going off. That he heard Gilliland 
say, the army acted like a parcel of damned robbers. 
That several of Gilliland's tenants, in particular one 
Nathaniel Blood, bought sundry tents, axes, guns, &c. 
from the soldiers of the American armj^, for a mere 
trifle of rum, which said Blood had from said Gilliland, 
and he believes said Gilliland was concerned with said 
Blood. He the deponent observed to Gilliland that he 
thought it very wrong to buy those articles of the sol- 
diers, as it was defrauding the country ; to which Gilli- 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 63 

land answered, it was no matter how mucli they got 
out of the country ; the more the better ; and that be- 
ing at GilUland's when the army was going to Canada 
this spring, several officers passed by the window. 
Gillilaud said there comes a company of damned bur- 
glars. He was also in company with John Watson 
since the last retreat ; he heard said Watson say that 
he was notafraidof the Regulars if they came, for that 
he had several officers for relations among them, and 
as for the American army they had acted like a parcel 

of damned robbers. 

Thomas Day. 
Robert Lewis. 

Gen. Gates to Gen. Arnold} 

Tyconderoga, October 2d, 1776. 
Dear General : I received your favor of the 28th, 
yesterday in the forenoon ; and after dinner Messrs. 
Gilliland, Watson, and Macauley, were brought here 
prisoners ; I found they had free intercourse together 
at Crown Point, so that no end could be answered by 
keeping them separate here. I propose sending them 
to Gen. ydiuyler, with the deposition of Sergeant Day 
and your letter. The Sergeant is by this time at Phil- 
adelphia ; but Gilliland designing to remain down the 
country during the war, there will be no difficulty in 
bringing him to answer any accusation.^ 



^ Am. Arch. 5th Series, ii, 847. 

2 1 am indebted to the active and intelligent antiquarian research 
of my friend Joel Munsell Esq. for these interesting documents which 
he exhumed from the Archives. 



64 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

The frivolous and baseless character of these charges 
against Gillilaiicl, will be detected by a glance at the 
papers communicated to Gen. Gates. Day was a sub- 
ordinate of Arnold and doubtless a dependant upon 
his will. The gravest of these imputations, are the 
sentiments imputed to Gillilaud of a desire or justi- 
fication of defrauding the government — a denuncia- 
tion of the American officials and the allegation that 
Watson had said, "he was not afraid if the Kegulars 
did come, as he had several relations among the oifi- 
cers." If the testimony of Day was unsuspicious and 
true, it only proved the intemperate and excited utter- 
ance of a man goaded to exasperation, by the oppres- 
sion and rapacit}^ of Arnold and his subalterns, and by 
the injustice which withheld remuneration for prop- 
erty that had been arbitrarily seized. It afforded no 
evidence of disloyalty in Watson, but a few years ex- 
patriated, that he should express a confidence in the 
protection of his Irish friends, who were approaching. 
The pretence of Arnold, that Gilliland had committed 
peculations, was unsupported by any shadow of testi- 
mony, and was probably an afterthought, and designed 
to avert an inquiry into his own extortions. The condi- 
tion of the public funds and the integrity of the com- 
missary department equally discredited the allegation. 
Gates in his reply to Arnold, treated the charges as 
summarily and with as slight consideration as military 
etiquette permitted. The narrative of these proceed- 
ings by Gilliland, embodied in the memorial to con- 
gress, which I have so frequently quoted, is worthy of 
attention. lie describes the sale of his crops to Maj. 
Hay, and proceeds: " Shortly after entering into the 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 65 

above agreement, your memorialist fully determined 
to remove himself, his slaves, stock, crops, and such 
portable furniture and tools as remained behind, to Ti- 
conderoga, made a kind of cellar in the woods, in 
which he hid away his saw and gristmill irons, and a 
great variety of other irons and some steel ; in value 
at that time not less than X200 ; loaded two Bateaux 
with household stuff and other articles, and brought 
them and his whole family there remaining, to the 
house of one of his tenants, three miles from where 
your memorialist then lived, only waiting for a north- 
erly wind to favor their passage to Crown point, for 
which purpose your memorialist had the boats hauled 
a good way up on the shore without unloading them, 
keeping his people meanwhile, closely employed in 
harvesting. Here your memorialist remained two or 
three days, not daring to stay at home, being there 
much more dangerously situated, should an enemy 
come. During this period, Gen. Arnold, then down the 
lake with the fleet, in reward for your memorialist's 
zeal in the cause, for the manifold services he had ren- 
dered our army, and for a recompense of the eminent 
services he had rendered him, or rather to cancel all 
obligations due to your memorialist on that score, 
sent a party of soldiers to tear your memorialist from 
his property, dignifying him with an office for a com- 
mander, whose rank was so high as a sergeant, with 
private orders not to allow him to remove any of his 
property. ' ' In another part of the document, Gilliland 
bursts into a magnificent and scourging invective of Ar- 
nold, which, if it were the sole memorial we possess of 
the moral and intellectual qualities of Gilliland, would 
9 



66 PIONEER HISTORY OP 

stamp him a man of extraordinary character. Arnold, 
when this denunciation was uttered, was in the zenith 
of his fame and influence ; yet Gilliland fearlessly pro- 
claims his rapacity and oppression, and, almost ani- 
mated by the spirit of prophecy, portrays his character 
with ahold and unfaltering hand, as remakable as was 
the eloquence and vehemence of his language. He 
exclaims, after glancing at his own services and de- 
scribing his arrest, "Gen. Arnold is your servant; all 
the power and authority he has, is derived from you, 
and that has enabled him to commit the acts of tyran- 
ny and outrage upon your memorialist and others, 
whose complaints have been laid before you. It is 
not in mine, but it is in your power to bring him to jus- 
tice. Bursting with pride, and intoxicated with power, 
to which he ever ought to have been a stranger, but 
which he has had the art to obtain from you, he ty- 
rannizes when he can. If temerity, if rashness, impu- 
dence and error can recommend him to you, he is al- 
lowed to be amply supplied with these qualities, and 
many people think they ought to recommend him in 
a peculiar manner to Lord North, who, in gratitude 
for his having done more injury to the American 
cause than all the ministerial troops have had the power 
of doing, ought to reward him with a generous pen- 
sion. He used his outmost endeavours, to preventyour 
memorialist fi-om returning to his place to preserve 
and remove to Ticonderoga, his crops and other prop- 
erty — and when passing your memorialist's settle- 
ment with the fleet, brought them to anchor just op- 
posite to it; suflering the most disorderly, the most 
licentious fellows on shore, where in a few hours, they 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 67 

carried off or destroyed of my property, to near the 
amount of £> , besides the outrages committed on our 
homes. I complain not, that by the breaking up of 
my settlement, I am divested of an annual income of 
more than a thousand pounds, a calamity to which 
every person is subject, whose situation is equally dan- 
gerous, and whose political sentiments are as publicly 
known as were mine. On your love of justice, on the 
humanity and tenderness I believe your honors to be 
possessed, do I entirely rely, on your taking this mat- 
ter into serious consideration." 

No evidence exists that any further action was taken 
on these charges against Gilliland. In the broad light 
which subsequent events poured upon the character of 
Arnold, we are better able to form a just conception 
of his motives and acts, than his cotemporaries of '77, 
who were so often dazzled by the meteor glare of his 
brilliant exploits. In a conflict of reputation, or a 
question of veracity, between Arnold and Gilliland, 
no hesitation in reaching a conclusion could now be 
justified. Arnold had committed outrage upon the 
rights and property of Gilliland, had been the receiver 
of the rapine of his followers, — he had been re- 
sisted and denounced, and it is known that he never 
paused in an unrelenting and vindictive persecution 
of those who crossed his path, or restricted his rapaci- 
ties. This attribute of his character, which was soon 
after developed in such distinct preeminence, affords 
a solution of his malignant pursuit of Gilliland. 

I have unhesitatingly yielded my confidence to this 
memorial, ^ and have accepted it as a reliable and afflu- 

iSee it in full in the Journal, 1777. 



68 PIONEER HISTOET OF 

ent fountain of information. It bears intrinsic evidence 
ofveracity^in many details it is corroborated by other 
testimony; a similar instrument was addressed about 
the same time to Gen. Gates, which was often identical 
in language, and embraced most of the representations 
of facts embraced in this memorial. The intelligence 
of Gates could not have been imposed upon by any 
mendacious statement of events, represented to have 
occurred within the dej^artment under his own com- 
mand, and which were generally within his personal 
knowledge. Nor would Gilliland, with his singular 
shrewdness and sagacity, have ventured to lay before 
that august body fallacious statements, which congress 
were bound to investigate, and the falsity of which 
would have been inevitably detected. 

It is necessary to revert briefly to those public events, 
on Lake Champlain, which were intimately connected 
with the afl:airs of Gilliland, and which in their conse- 
quences pressed with such severity upon his fortunes. 
Sullivan, after his retreat from Canada, with his army 
restored to health and reorganized, determined to evac- 
uate Crown Point. He burnt all the erections at that 
place, destroyed the public property which could not 
be removed, and withdrew the American forces with 
their munitions, and gathered them about Ticonderoga. 
A large and well appointed British army was concen- 
trated at St. Johns, and menaced the colonies with 
invasion. To effect a successful advance, it was neces- 
sary to secure a naval preponderance upon the lake. 
Six vessels of a large class, which had been constructed 
in England, were taken apart at the foot of the rapids 
upon the Kichelieu, the materials transported to St. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 69 

Johns, and there rebuilt, in the summer of 1776. Other 
vessels of various dimensions were also constructed 
with the utmost celerity. By these energetic efforts 
a fleet of thirty-one vessels, and carrying in their arma- 
ment from one to eighteen guns, was prepared for act- 
ive service on the 1st of October, in that year. This 
fleet was navigated by seven hundred veteran seamen, 
and armed by a heavy corps of artillery. Congress 
was not insensible to the vital emergency of the occa- 
sion, but possessed means totally inadequate to the 
magnitude of the crisis. The timber required for the 
construction of a flotilla was yet standing in the forest, 
and was to be cut, prepared and transported, to the 
ship yard at Ticonderoga, almost unaided by the ap- 
pliances of art or mechanism. Its equipments were 
to be conveved a lona: distance over roads new and 
almost impracticable. The ship carpenters who must 
construct the vessels were employed in urgent duties in 
the navy yards upon the coasts. Stimulated rather 
than oppressed by all these adverse combinations, the 
indomitable energies of Arnold created and equipped 
a flotillaofflfteen vessels with an aggregate battery of 
fifty-five guns, and manned by three hundred and 
fifty gallant and resolute men, but nearly all of 
whom were totally inexperienced in naval expedi- 
tions. The exigency invoked heroism and sacrifices, 
and notwithstanding the great disparity in every ele- 
ment of strength, Arnold fearlessly threw his little ar- 
manent across the path of the invaders. The fleets 
met on the 11th Oct. in a narrow strait between 
Valcour Island and the mainland, and nearly oppo- 



70 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

site Gilliland's settlement, which he called Janes- 
borough.^ 

During four hours the conflict continued with ter- 
rific fury, and was ennobled by deeds of heroic and ex- 
alted daring, unsurpassed in the annals of naval war- 

^ A solitary house, occupied by a family named Hay, (referred to 
in Arnold's letter to Gates, page 60), stood, in the year 1776, upon 
the shore of the lake, directly fronting a little cove, in which, on the 
memorable 11th of October, the squadron of Arnold was moored. It 
had been arranged between Hay and Arnold, that the former, when he 
discerned the approach of the British fleet, should signal Arnold by 
displaying a sheet from a window. The signal was made — but no 
advantage was apparently taken of it. A daughter of Mr. Hay, the 
venerable Mrs. Elmore, who has but recently deceased, was then an 
infant in her mother's arms. Mrs. Elmore communicated to me many 
interesting particulars, which she derived from the traditions in her 
family, of that battle and other reminiscences of the early history of 
the country. Her daughter married a grandson of William Gilliland, 
who now resides at the mouth of Salmon river, and in view of the 
scene of the conflict. 

While the battle raged, Mrs Hay carrying her infant, went to a 
spring in a ravine near the lake, which was at that time mantled by 
a dense thicket. To her unutterable amazement and terror, she found 
herself in the midst of a large body of Indians, hideous by their war 
paints and savage costume, and armed with guns and tomahawks. 
The mother, agitated and alarmed at her helpless condition, and fran- 
tically clasping her child to her breast, wept convulsively. An aged 
chief, slie judged from his demeanour, approached, and unable to com- 
municate consolation or an assurance of safety by language, mani- 
fested his protective feeling by gently and soothingly, wiping away 
her tears with the skirt of his hunting shirt ; neither the mother or 
child was molested. These Indians were evidently placed in ambush, 
prepared to seize the American crew, if they attempted to escape by 
landing. The tender mercies, that would have been exercised by these 
Allies of England, we may conceive. This incident determines the 
historical question, which has been discussed, whether the fleet of 
Carlton was accompanied by hordes of savages, who advanced along 
the shores of the lake. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 71 

fare. Arnold, levelling almost every gun in his own 
vessel, conducted the battle with the highest skill and 
the most determined courage, until night terminated the 
engagement. One of the British gondolas was sunk, 
and another, with all its crew of sixty men, was blown 
up. An American schooner was also sunk^ and a gon- 
dola burnt, while the entire fleet was shattered and 
disabled. The disproportion in the strength of the 
fleets was too vast to justify a maintainance of the con- 
flict. Arnold attempted to effect an escape to Crown 
Point, by boldly passing through the British fleet un- 
der cover of a dark and foggy night. His retreat was 
revealed to the vigilent enemy by the earliest dawn, 
and a prompt pursuit ensued. 

A solitary rock which stands in the broad lake, and 
shrouded in an autumnal midst, in the early gloom 
was mistaken by the British, for an American vessel, 
and a connonade was opened upon it. The mariners 
of the lake still call it " Carlton's prize." Arnold was 
overtaken near Otter creek, and sustained for an- 
other four hours, with his single galley, and five Gon- 
dolas a bloody combat with the British fleet, in pro- 
tecting the retreat of the remainder of his flotilla. 
Resolute in the purpose of preserving his flotilla and 
crew from becoming trophies to the enemy, he ran the 
vessels upon the shore and blew them up. Their char- 

^This vessel was sunk near a small rocky inlet, which from the cir- 
cumstance was named " Ship Island." The wreck from which numer- 
ous memorials have been recovered, it is said may still be discerned at 
seasons of low water when the lake is serene. An effort was made 
some years ago to raise this vessel. Her bows were elevated above the 
surface, guns and some munitions were taken from her, but she broke 
away, and sunk in deep water, and the attempt was abandoned. 



72 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

red wrecks for many years remained upon the beach 
at Panton, memorials of his galhintry and patriotism, 
long after other deeds had consigned his name to 
infamy.^ 

One galley only was captured, while the rest of the 
fleet retreated to Ticonderoga. Gen. Carlton advanced 
no further than Crown Point, which he again occupied, 
and having spent a month in menacing the American 
works at Ticonderoga, returned to Canada. During 
this expedition he visited the deserted settlement on 
the Bouquet, hut left uninjured the structures which 
had been abandoned. 

An event occurred in the following year, on the se- 
questered banks of the Bouquet, memorable in the 
history of the revolution, and remarkable in the annals 
of civilized nations. It was denounced in the thunders 
of Chatham's eloquence, and the religious and moral 
sentiment of the Christian world was revolted by the 
act. No measure in the policy of England, tended so 
eifectually to harmonize the popular passions of Amer- 
ica, while it precipitated the armed and infuriated yeo- 
manry of 'New England upon the entrenchments at 
Saratoga. 

Burgoyne had summoned the Indian tribes to meet 
him atthe falls of the Bouquet. They obeyed his call 
in numbers that startled his humanity and appalled 
his judgment. On the 20th of June, '77, he assem- 
bled the chiefs in a redoubt, which he caused to be 
constructed about half a mile below the mansion of 

1 Relics of these vessels embedded near the shore still exist. Mu- 
nitions are frequently raised from them. I have in my possession 
bullets which were recovered a few years since. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 73 

Gilliland. There Burgoyne addressed them, and claim- 
ed their services to the British king. A chief, in the 
wild and vehement eloquence of Indian oratory, replied, 
and pledging the fealty of the tribes to a merciless 
warfare against the colonies. In this strange council, 
amid these placid scenes, a treaty was made, and rati- 
fied in savage orgies, by which furious hordes were con- 
stituted the allies of England, and the tomahawk and 
scalping knife, were to be encrimsoued in the blood 
of her kindred in lineage, in religion, and civilization. 
The remains of this redoubt could within a few years 
yet be traced. Its site is still designated, although its 
lines have been entirely obliterated by the labors of 
agriculture. Burgoyne encamped his army upon the 
shore of the lake near the mouth of the Bouquet, and 
occupied ten days in organizing for the advance, and 
in drilling the Canadian voyageurs in the military evo- 
lutions of his fleet of batteaux. This vast armament 
passed onward to meet other scenes of blood, of tri- 
umph and disaster, but the ulterior operations of Bur- 
goyne, had no du'ect connection with the fortunes of 
Gilliland. 

Refugee tories and other irregulars, fugitives from 
the fate which was impending over the British army, 
traversed the settlement on the Bouquet. Carlton and 
Burgoyne, had been merciful and conciliatory in their 
visitations. The rapacity of Arnold, and the exactions 
of the government had spared the dwellings of the set- 
tlers, but these gleaners in devastation, left only ashes 
and desolation in their track. Tradition wer, that 
they consigned to the flames every edifice, from Split 
10 



74 PIONEER mSTOTR OF 

Rock to the Bouquet, in a wanton and ruthless destruc- 
tion. 

General history has failed to commemorate an 
exploit of Col. Ebenezer Allen, the hero of Mt. Defi- 
ance. In the autumn of 1777, with a small force he 
surprised near the present village of Essex, and capt- 
ured, a large detachment with a heavy train of muni- 
tions, retreating from Ticonderoga to Canada.^ 

It appears from a petition dated "January 15th, 
1778, Fort Albany," and addressed to the committee 
of that city, by Gilliland, that he had again fallen un- 
der the suspicion of the military authorities. He rep- 
resents that he had been arrested, on account of an in- 
discreet circulation of a rumor, derived from an officer 
of the army relative to the American losses, at the bat- 
tle of Brandywiue. "While in the act of liberation for 
this venial oifence, he was again imprisoned upon a 
charge of having illegally " purchased a few articles be- 
longing to a part of the spoils of Burgoyne's army," in 
contravention probably of some official order. He states, 
in explanation of the transaction, that he purchased 
the property innocently, supposing it to be legitimate 
spoils. His narrative furnishes the only information 
we possess of the transaction, but that, sustained by 
the testimonials he produced, seems to have been a 
clear and ample vindication.^ The petition embraces 
some severe strictures upon the course of Gen. Gates 
in reference to the fugitive slaves of Gilliland. The en- 
tire document possesses value by affording a slight in- 

1 Butlers address. 

*This petition is printed under the appropriate date in connection 
with the Journal. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 75 

sight into the official acts of the period and the char- 
acters of its public men. One paragraph will excite 
especial interest. He recites with peculiar earnestness, 
the circumstances of his military arrests, and then pro- 
ceeds in this fervent appeal to the committee to vindi- 
cate the civil authority from the usurpations of the 
military power: "You are very sensible, gentlemen, 
that no laws, divine or human, justify such acts of vi- 
olence and oppression, as those now practised upon 
me ! Will you, the guardians of these parts, be tame 
spectators thereof, without exercising that authority, 
vested in you by the authority of a free people, to pre- 
vent military officers (the more dangerous as they are the 
more exalted in rank) to sapthefoundatiotis of our new 
' constitution, before it be sufficiently established, and 
through the persecution of an innocent individual, to 
make the most dangerous attacks and innovation upon 
the most sacred rights, and most inestimable privileges 
of the people — of those, especially who are your im- 
mediate constituents. Where then are the beneiits 
expected from magna charta, the bill of right, the ha- 
beas corpus act, and all other privileges now contend- 
ing for, and which the subject of free and independent 
states claim, and ever ought to enjoy? Are they to 
be trampled upon by the military, through the timidity 
of those in civil authority ? No! I trust not, though 
I dread the consequences of precedents, from which 
evils of the most enormous size and pernicious ten- 
dency may originate and flow." 

The allusion to "exalted rank," in military position, 
and the general import of the extract, decidedly points 



76 PIONEER HISTORY OP 

to Arnold as tlie hand that had directed these insidi- 
ous persecutions. 

The residence and occupation of Gilliland from this 
date to the close of the war, are involved in almost im- 
penetrable obscurity. He incidentally alludes to a con- 
tingent title to real estate in Orange county, and to an 
investment of trilling sums in Europe, on the eve of 
the Revolution.^ In the memorial to congress, he 
uses language that implies necessitous circumstances ; 
he says " being now entirely divested of all employ- 
ment," and to " enable me to support a numerous 
family of motherless children," and solicits an appoint- 
ment " which shall not derogate from my former sta- 
tion." His vast real estates must have sustained his 
credit to a limited extent, through this dark period. 

Although in the environs of Lake Champlain, act- 
ive hostilities were suspended in 1780, by the armistice, 
between Gen. Haldibrand and the Vermont authori- 
ties, they were probably inaccessible to the transient 
visits of peaceful citizens. The Journal of Gilliland 
contains notices of applications in this year for the pur- 
chase of land on his tracts in that territory. In the 
year 1783, these applications had swollen to an enor- 
mous amount, but no actual settlements were made 
until the following spring. 

It appears from a memorandum in 1780, and an- 
other in '83, in reference to contracts for the raising 
of ore, and the introduction of the iron manufactory, 
that the attention of Gilliland at this early period, had 
been directed to the development of the vast mineral 

1 In a letter printed with the JournaL 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 77 

resources of that district, and to his sagacity and obser- 
vation, may probably be ascribed the initiation of an 
industry which has constituted an essential element of 
the wealth and prosperity of Northern New York. 

In a letter addressed to a foreign correspondent, im- 
mediately subsequent to the revolution, Mr. Gilliland 
enunciates the idea of uniting Lake Champlain with 
the navigable waters of the Hudson — although it was 
merely an inchoate imagining, floating in his active and 
teeming brain, without any tangible or coherent form, 
the conception was there, and distinctly unfolded.* 

"When the approach of peace had removed the bar- 
riers to their access, Gilliland returned to his posses- 
sions. Six years he had been an exile, and his estates 
through that long period, were uncultivated and deso- 
late; more desolate than when he first penetrated the 
wilderness to create upon them culture and embelish- 
ments. The beauty and grandeur of nature, then re- 
deemed the gloom and solitude of the scene — bushes 
and wild vegetation now usurped fields, which toil and 
expense had wrested from the forests — fences were 
decayed, bridges had fallen, roads were broken up, 
charred and blackened ruins marked the site of their 
former homes. 

Notwithstanding the contemplation of these losses 
and sacrifices, the spirit of Gilliland was buoyant and 
hopeful. He claimed title to majestic possessions 
scarcely second to any upon the continent, in magni- 
tude or value. In addition to the property in the vi- 
cinity of the Boquet and Splitrock, itself a vast estate, 
he held the patent of Bessborough, the large estate at 

1 This letter is referred to in the last note. 



78 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

the mouth of the Salmon river, Cumberland head, a 
broad tract spreading through the present towns of 
Beekmantown and Chazy, and the isle of Motte, and 
three shares in the Dean purchase on Grand Isle in 
Vermont.^ The vast aggregation of these various 
tracts I have no data for accurately estimating. The 
whole would have constituted an immense manorial 
estate.^ 

This was the brightest and most auspicious epoch 
in the checkered life of Gilliland. Peace was restored, 
and the independence of the country achieved-^ he 
confided in the justice of the government for the re- 
muneration of his losses — the tide of immigration was 
pouring into the valley in a strong and perpetually 
augmenting volume, the value of his lands was en- 
hanced beyond his most ardent calculations, and the 
fruition of his enterprise, his sagacity and labors seemed 
maturing to his grasp. 

Previous to the year 1784, the Journal of Gilliland 
contains memoranda of contracts for the sale of land, 
and notices of applications for purchases, amounting 
in the aggregate, to nearly sixty thousand acres. But 
the unexplored future was garnering new trials, and 
preparing heavier adversity for him. These bright 

iQ. F. Sheldon's Manuscripts. 

2 Isle La Motte, derives its name from a Capt. La Motte, who built 
a fort upon it at an early date of the French occupation. Mr. Shel- 
don informg me, that he has examined the ruins of this fort, which 
was a stone structure, andstood'uponalow sandy point at thenorthend 
of the island. The younger Gilliland stated to Mr. Sheldon, that, his 
father, when his interest in Isle La Motte was abrogated by the arrange- 
ment between New York and Vermont, reoeived from the state as an 
equivalent, a tract of land near Utica. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 79 

gleamings of sunshine were soon to be succeeded by 
shadows, clouds and storms. 

Impediments created by designing parties, to the con- 
summation of Gilliland's title to a large part of his most 
valuable estates in Clinton county, was the first event 
that presaged these calamities. He had invested, as 
we have seen, a heavy amount of funds in the purchase 
of military rights, endowed by the royal proclamation 
of October, 1763. These rights he had located upon 
some of the most desirable tracts in the Champlain 
valley. He had caused them to be surveyed, and had 
improved and cultivated them by a large expenditure 
of money and labor. All the preliminaries prescribed 
by the colonial laws had been studiously performed by 
Gilliland, and every requisite documentary evidence 
upon which to authenticate the issuing of patents were 
filed in the appropriate offices immediately preceding 
the outburst of the revolutionary struggle. Owing, 
however, either to the confusion and agitation of the 
times, or as Gilliland alleged from his resistance to 
the attempted extortion of illegal fees, in the colonial 
office, no patents were issued to him for lands in Clin- 
ton county, to the aggregate amount of eight thousand 
five hundred acres. At an early period of the war, 
the state legislature enacted a statute abrogating all 
the royal grants, which had not been consummated by 
the actual and formal issuing of patents. 

Upon the establishment of peace, a vast and over- 
shadowing company was organized which grasped all 
the available lands in the sections of the state, accessi- 
ble to immigration. This company as Gilliland averred 
seized upon his documents in the surveyor general's 



80 PIONEER HISTORY OP 

office, and on his surveys and locations based their ap- 
plications for and obtained patents of the most valu- 
able tracts. Gilliland resisted these acts of injustice 
and oppression, and appealed to the legislature in vain 
for relief.' The courts sustained the statute and pro- 
nounced in favor of the validity of the patents granted 
to this company. By these judgments Gilliland was 
not merely deprived of the property, but he lost the 
heav}' consideration he had paid in the original pur- 
chase of the rights, the large disbursements he had in- 
curred in the locations, surveys and improvement of 
the land, and was also amerced in heavy expenses and 
costs in the defence of his title. 

Previous to the revolution, Gilliland had created a 
lumber trade with Canada, which attained large pro- 
portions.^ On his return to his estates, he attempted 
to revive this business, and invested nearly all the 
available means he was able to control in the collection 
and transportation of avast raft of oak timber to Que- 
bec. This was confided to a faithless agent, who de- 
frauded him of the entire proceeds. 

Another episode demands attention. Its dark thread 
was interwoven through a series of years, in the care- 
worn, and troubled life of Gilliland, Jind was an active 
cause in producing his final ruin. Frequent allusion 
is made in his journal and papers to his slaves and 
their conduct. In one instance they manifested towards 

1 His petition is incorporated under the proper date in the Journal. 

2 Mr. Sheldon states that white oak staves which were prepared at 
this period, and piled in the woods, were found on the return of Gilli- 
land six years after, in a state of such preservation as to be in a mer- 
chantable condition. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 81 

him devoted fidelity. He charges that at other times, 
they had been suborned by his enemies, and inflamed 
by the hope of emancipation in the turmoils and dis- 
tractions of the times, had been used to sustain unjust 
imputations upon him and to betray his interests. He 
imputes to Gen. Gates and his subordinates, in the 
most decided language, in the petition to the Albany 
committee, complicity in the secreting and deportation 
of these slaves. Their escape or abduction from his au- 
thority is fully established, but of the precise facts and 
his subsequent action, which involved consequences so 
serious, I can give no satisfactory explanation. Gilli- 
land undoubtedly attempted their reclamation, and 
exposed himself by some illegal and violent measures 
committed in Massachusetts, to either civil or criminal 
prosecution. He speaks in one place of " a fine" and 
in another of a private judgment "in the negro busi- 
ness." The judgment is in the name of Hopkins and 
IngersoU, of Great Barrington, Mass., who I infer, 
prosecuted in some official capacity. A letter to his 
son under date July 22d, 1791, from the prison in New 
York, affords a slight glimpse of the circumstances of 
the case. He states that the judgment against him 
was £696 pounds, "although Hopkins and IngersoU 
informed me that a present of 40 or 50 dollars, judi- 
ciously divided between Bristol and Flora, would sat- 
isfy all demands against me on that score." I gather 
from this letter that the state of Massachusetts was ac- 
cessory to these proceedings. He utters on this sub- 
ject the following language, which can scarcely be re- 
garded as either singular or unreasonable. " Squire 
Fowler of Westfield, was lately here to visit me, and 
11 



82 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

advised me to settle the matter with the parties, so 
that 1 may he immediately liberated. I answered him, 
that if it was an advantage to Massachusetts at large, 
that my slaves should he emancipated, it should be at 
the charge of the people of that state, and not by the 
owner of such slaves — as I might thereby be totally 
ruined to gratify such, their iniquitous wishes : that 
I had only been 2,300 days here and was determined 
to remain here several days more, rather than sacrifice 
my property to my utter ruin, to gratify their capri- 
ces." A certificate under the hand of the under sheriff 
of New York, states that Gilliland " was committed 
upon this judgment on this 21st day of September, 
1786, and continued in confinement to the 3d day of 
December, 1791. These acts of Gilliland, whatever 
may have been their character and the proceedings in 
consequence, must have transpired immediately after 
the close of the war, and before the federal constitution 
had exacted any fugitive slave law. 

In the same letter Gilliland estimates his various 
losses, direct and incidental, from the early stages of 
the revolution to the year 1791, at £70,000, New York 
currency. 

In accordance with some family arrangement, Gilli- 
land soon after the reoccupation of his property distri- 
buted among his children large portions of his estate 
in the Champlain valley. Heavy debts, which had 
accumulated under the paralysis of the times, began 
to press severely upon him. Money was nearly unat- 
tainable. What pecuniary means he had saved, were 
either sunk in the wreck of the lumber speculation, or 
diverted to their own purposes by those to whom 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 83 

they had been confided. The wheels of business were 
again in motion, but their movements were still feeble 
and irregular. 'No property, and least of all landed 
estates, afforded any revenue. Numerous salts were 
commenced against him and heavy judgments were 
impending. 

Many of these claims, such as that resulting from 
the slave difficulty he considered unjust and iniquitous. 
Under such circumstances he determined, not wisely 
I think, to place his property in a position to be pro- 
tected against the demands he repudiated, and to pre- 
vent its sacrifice by creditors who had become inexora- 
ble. He was committed to the jail limits of New 
York, in September, 1786, upon the judgment of Good- 
rich and Ingersoll. I find among the papers of Grilli- 
land a circular issued in 1799, and addressed to the 
counsels and attorney's, (and among them appear the 
names of Brockholst Livingstone and Aaron Burr,) 
of his creditors proposing terms of settlement. I have 
no means of deciding whether these propositions were 
rejected by all the creditors, but it is certain that he 
was not discharged from imprisonment under the 
judgment of Goodrich and Ingersoll, until December, 
1791. About that time he was released, but under 
what circumstances I have not been able to ascertain. 

A constitution inured to hardy and perpetual toil, 
withered under the eftects of confinement and inaction. 
A mind habituated to a constant tension and severe 
labor, soon yielded to the pressure of disease and the 
inanity of an unoccupied life. Sorrows, disappoint- 
ments, wrongs, and a conviction of the faithlessness of 
friends, crushed the sanguine spirit of Gilliland. His 



84 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

powerful mind yielded to these accumulated woes, 
and while in the vigor of manhood, premature old 
age palsied his energies and shattered his intellect. 
He appears to have been restored even before his re- 
lease, to a consciousness of his condition, and in a let- 
ter to his son while in prison, after enumerating his 
afflictions and hopes, he exclaimed with touching pa- 
thos, " these things were sufficient to have produced 
delirium." 

He returned, as soon as liberated to his possessions 
on Lake Champlain, after another exile of nearl}'^ six 
years. When he went back before to his former home, 
he found desolation, ruin and ashes, but his energies 
were unabated and hope gilded the scene. Now, he 
was bowed doAvn' by physical infirmities — his mind was 
darkened — he was almost an alien, and stranger, and 
without estates, standing upon his former princely pos- 
sessions. His partial insanity was palpable, and he was 
considered incompetent to the charge of his affairs. 
He resided at Essex, in the family of his son-in-law, 
Daniel Ross, and wandered about the scenes of his 
early enterprise and aspirations, under the delusions 
of an imagined ownership, and his mind teeming with 
schemes of improvement and speculations. 

His knowledge of the country was so perfect, and 
his sagacity and judgement, although obscured, were 
still so reliable, that his advice was often sought in the 
selection and location of lots. By his usefulness in 
this occupation, he became connected with a power- 
ful association for the purchase and location of real 
estate, of which Piatt Rogers was the administrative 
head in the northern section of the state. In this 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 85 

manner Gilliland created a slight pecuniary interest 
in their operations. About the first of February, 
1796, he was on his return from a visit to Rogers, at 
Basin harbor upon the lake, connected with this occu- 
pation, and traveling as was his habit on foot, amid 
the snows and frosts of the season. He wandered 
from the path, either in an excess of his mental malady, 
or to examine a lot of wild land in the vicinity, which 
he had received for his services from the association. 
His absence excited alarm ; he was sought, and after 
an interval of some days, was found, dead and frozen 
in the solitudes of the mountains. Stricken by some 
sudden attack, or overcome by exposure, he had ap- 
parently lost the power of walking, and his excoriated 
hands and knees worn to the nerves and muscles, at- 
tested that he had long and fearfully struggled with 
hunger, exhaustion, and cold. 

Such was the last sad and tragic scene, in a singu- 
larly variegated drama, of a remarkable life. The ca- 
reer of Gilliland was a romance. Its strange vicissi- 
tudes not only invoke our sympathy and compassion, 
but are calculated to impart solemn and salutary ad- 
monition. The pioneer of the Champlain Valley thus 
piteously perished, in what should have been the 
ripeness of his years, and the plenitude of his powers 
and usefulness — for his age was scarcely three score. 
The former lord of a vast domain, the generous pat- 
ron and tender father, the dispenser of munificent hos- 
pitalities, the associate and counsellor of vice royalty, 
died far away from human care, of cold and famine, 
with no voice of love to soothe his sufierings, and no 
kind hand to close his dying eyes. A simple stone 



86 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

marks his grave in ttie cemetery of the village of 
Essex, bearing this inscription : 

Sacred to the Memory of 

"William Gilliland, Esq., 

who departed this life the 2d Feb., 1796, 

aged 62 years. 

Erected by W. and II. Ross. 

Mr. Gilliland left an only son, William, who died 
some years ago. His sons William and Henry P. still 
occupy the patrimonial estate at the mouth of the Sal- 
mon river, named Janesboro by the pioneer. The 
eldest daughter, Elizabeth, of the elder Gilliland, mar- 
ried Daniel Ross ; another daughter, Charlotte, married 
Stephen Cuyler, and a third, Jane Willsboro, became 
the wifeof John Bleecker of Albany. Among the grand 
children by these marriages were William D. Ross, 
and Henry H. Ross of Essex, an eminent lawyer and 
distinguished citizen, and Stephen Cuyler of Essex, 
and Charles Cuyler, of Illinois, who still survive. Mrs. 
Bleecker, also left issue. Numerous descendants of Mr. 
Gilliland are scattered in various sections of the United 
States, and in the British provinces, many of whom 
occupy high social positions. 

A brief narrative of the colony created by his saga- 
cious energies, until the current of its affairs became 
swallowed up in the stream of general history, seems 
a necessary sequel to an appropriate memoir of Gilli- 
land. 

I am indebted to Mr. Sheldon for most of the facts 
embraced in the following sketch. 

The two first settlers in Willsboro after the Revolu- 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 87 

tion, were Joseph Sheldon and Abraham Aiken of 
Dutchess county, New York. They traversed Lake 
George and Lake Champlain upon the ice, arrived at 
the Boquet in March, 1784, and selected Lots No. 2 
and 3 of Gilliland's survey. Fourteen additional fami- 
lies increased the settlement in course of the same 
spring. Several other persons located lots and erected 
dwellings. From this period, progress in immigration 
and improvement was rapid and permanent. Li the 
first year of the revived colonization, the immigrants 
were compelled to resort to Vergennes to obtain their 
lumber. Their grain was freighted to Burlington, 
and thence transported for grinding to a mill at AViu- 
ooski falls, a mile and a half in the interior. The 
succeeding year, these embarrassments were relieved 
by mills which.Mr. Ross erected on the Boquet. This 
settlement had no political organization before the 
year 1788. The military power, which as we have no- 
ticed was appealed to in case of emergency, no longer 
existed. No authority seems to have prevailed be- 
yond the law of kindness and friendship, and the force 
of public sentiment. Clinton county, embracing the 
present territory of Essex, Clinton and a part of Frank- 
lin, was organized in that year, and was constituted 
by the towns Champlain, Plattsburgh, Willsboro, and 
Crown Point, which were incorporated at the same 
time. "Willsboro included about one half of Essex 
county, and parts of Clinton and Franklin, and extended 
over an area of nearly nine hundred square miles. 
At this date the settlement had no communication 
by land with the exterior world. A main highway 
had been constructed along the shore of the lake, from 



88 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

the Willsboro falls, to Split rock, with lateral roads 
extending to cabins erected by pioneers, deeper in tl\e 
"wilderness than the mass of the colony had penetrated. 
A path marked by blazed trees led over the "Willsboro 
mountains, to the Ausable river, and from thence a 
wood road conducted to Plattsburgh, the shire town 
of this vast county. A similar contrivance probably 
secured the track towards Crown Point. 

Melchior Hotihagle was elected supervisor, and 
William McAuley justice of the peace, at the first 
town meeting of Willsboro. McAuley was also ap- 
pointed a judge of the court of common pleas of the 
county of Clinton.^ 

I Tradition distinguislies McAuley, vrho seems to have been the con- 
trolling spirit of the community in the absence of Gilliland, as a man 
of education and talents. The discharge of his magisterial functions, 
discloses the exercise of excellent judgment and great good sense. 
The code he pursued, was eminently adapted to the condition of a 
new country. His system was based on practical equity and substan- 
tial justice, with little regard to the subtle technicalities of the books. 
Numerous instances are still related of his civil and criminal adjudi- 
cations. Gardner vs. Frazier. The defendant had employed the plain- 
tiff to labor, and agreed to pay him in flour and boards, which he re- 
fused to do. Gardner sued, and justice McAuley rendered a judg- 
ment, for a specific performance by the immediate payment of the 
articles. The people vs. Stafl'ord. A complaint was made, that de- 
fendant had shingled his barn on the sabbath. .Justice McAuley rep- 
rimanded him severely, admonishing him to pursue a more eorrect 
course, and inflicted a fine of six shillings, which he informed Staf- 
ford he could take in potatoes. The potatoes were duly paid. One 
Rose was convicted of sheep stealing. The justice sentenced him to 
twenty lashes on the bare back, and confinement for four hours in the 
stocks. The lashes were at once applied, and an impromptu stock 
created, by taking down the garden log fence of the justice, cutting 
notches in the lower log to receive the ankles, wliich were confined 
by replacing the next log. In that condition, lying on his back, in 
the midst of a jeering crowd, he performed his penance for the speci- 
fied time. — 0. F. Sheldon^s niss. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 89 

At this period the affairs of the town were conduct- 
ed with slight regard to forms or the requirements of 
the statutes. The remote settlements were essentially 
deprived of a participation in their management, and 
a plan was adopted by which an equitable apportion- 
ment of the town oificers was effected in its different 
sections. Each locality designated in a primary meet- 
ing the individuals who should receive the appoint- 
ments appropriated to that district. A delegate bore 
these nominations to the town meeting, by which they 
were usually confirmed. At the general election, the 
polls on the two first days were held one half day in 
a separate place, and at some central or populous point 
the whole of the third day. These expedients facili- 
tated and secured the enjoyment of their civil rights 
to the inhabitants. 

In the year 1790, Piatt Rogers opened a road from 
Basin harbor to Split rock, where it connected with 
a road established by Gilliland twenty-four years pre- 
vious. Rogers built in the same year a bridge over 
the Boquet at Willsboro Falls, and constructed a road 
from that point to Peru, in Clinton county. Large 
and valuable appropriations from the public lands of 
the state, afibrded to Rogers and his associates a liberal 
remuneration for these services. A road, which was, 
however nearly impassable, was opened to the new 
settlement in Lewis, Keene, and Jay.^ 

The alarm and excitement, which agitated the whole 
frontier on the defeat, in this year, of St.Clair, and the 
apprehension of a combined movement of the Six Na- 

1 Letter from the late Levi Highby, Esq. 

12 



/ 



90 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

tions witli the savage tribes of the west, extended to 
the humble hamlets of Willsboro. A block house was 
erected near the modern village of Essex for the pro- 
tection of the inhabitants. Upon the subsequent or- 
ganization of Essex county, in 1799, that edifice was 
temporarily converted into a court house and jail. 

A claim advanced by the St. Regis and Caughnawaga 
Indians, in 1792, to a vast tract embracing most of 
the territory between the Mohawk and the St. Law- 
rence, was urged for several years with great pertenacity. 
This claim not only embarrassed the title to the lands 
of the settlers, but it agitated the public mind from 
the extreme terror which prevailed in the exposed set- 
tlements of savage hostility. Just and vigilant inves- 
tigation amply established the conclusion, that these 
tribes never possessed a title to the tract, but that the 
Iroquois were the original proprietors, who had long 
before alienated it to the whites by treaty or sales. 

I have remarked that Gilliland at an early period 
seems to have comprehended the vast importance and 
wealth of the mineral resources of his district, but the 
iron manufacture did not until 1801, attain any tan- 
gible form. In that year Levi Highby and Geoi'ge 
Troop, aided by the capital of Charles Kane, of Sche- 
nectady, erected a forge at "Willsboro falls. Its pro- 
ducts consisted chiefly of anchors and mill irons. These 
articles were transported to the Kew York market, 
by the way of White Hall, and thence by land to Fort 
Edward, where they were again shipped in bateaux. 
Anchors were brought from Quebec, to be repaired at 
these works, as there was no forge at that time and 
long after in Canada, competent to perform such la- 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 91 

bor. This establishment for a series of years was the 
most important iron manufactory in the environs of 
Lake Champlain. 

After an interval of nearly forty years, hostile British 
vessels, during the war of 1812, again entered the wa- 
ters of the Boquet. They committed considerable de- 
predations, but were promptly repulsed by the militia 
of the vicinity. 

In conformity with my plan, I now proceed to lay 
before the reader the most important and interesting 
portion of my work, and that which has inspired the 
whole. This embraces the journal of Gilliland, com- 
mencing on the 10th of May, 1765, and pursued from 
day to day, through the early period of the coloniza- 
ton, and letters and various other documents illustra- 
tive of his career. I fear, that by some readers, my 
notes may be considered too minute and copious. My 
object has been, in the augmented labor I have given to 
this duty, to explain as far as practicable the events in 
the life of Gilliland, which are recorded, and to localize 
scenes and incidents which he notices. 



92 PIONEER HISTORY OF 



WILLSBOROUGH TOWl^ BOOK. 

Commencing the 10th day of June, 1765. 

1765, May 10. This day I embarked at New York, 
for Albany, baving the following persons in company 
to settle that tract of laud,^ viz.: 

The Rev. George Henry, Minister. 

1 John Chislm, millwright, to work 4s "^ day and 

found. 

2 Robert Maclane, " " £5 f mo. and 

found. 

3 George Melson, carpenter, " £3:12"^ mo. 

and found. 

4 John Mattoon, clerk, at £25 '^ ann. and found. 

5 James Storkner, weaver, at 40s^ '^ mo. if wanted. 

6 Robert McAuley, do do do 

7 John McAuley, do do do 

8 George Belton, do do do 

9 Mrs. Belton, wife to the foregoing of same name. 

J " That tract of land." I infer from this language as well as the occa- 
sional endorsement on the journal, " Journal from New York to Wills- 
boro," that it is continuous of a previous document, which is now 
lost. 

^The currency here me'btioned and throughout the work, unless ster- 
ling, is specified in the New York colonial currency at $2.50 to the 
pound. The low wages in comparison with the charges at the present 
day, for the same class of mechanics and laborers, is a striking fact, 
especially when we consider the innumerable privations and expos- 
ures, to which, in a wilderness remote from civilization, the services of 
these men subjected them. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 93 

10 Mrs. Chislm, wife to the foregoing of same name. 

11 Catherine Shepherd, hired to keep house. 

12 Mary Craig indentured for four years. 
May 13th, arrived at Albany, all well. 

May 14th, Isaac Bush, and William Barnes, drovers, 
arrived at Albany, with 20 oxen, 20 cows, 1 bull, and a 
number of calves for me.^ 

May 18th, Embarked in four bateaux,^ to proceed 
to Fort Edward, having to the amount of eighty barrels 

lit does not appear at what place these cattle had been collected, 
but Albany itself is about one hundred and fifty miles from Willsboro, 
by the route traveled. The transportation of so large a number of cat- 
tle this great distance, by land, in bateaux, swimming them across 
the lake, and through a wild and nearly untrodden wilderness, ex- 
hibits a perseverance and energy, we shall find characteristic of the 
man. 

* (Bateaux.) These boats, at this day unknown to our waters, were 
in the last century, and indeed until the construction of the canals, 
the chief medium of transportation upon our inland waters. They were 
used for freighting upon the Mohawk, the upper waters of the Hudson, 
Lake George and to a considerable extent on Lake Champlain. They 
navigated, in great numbers, the Mohawk from Schenectady to Rome, 
and much of the emigration to the West was at that period conducted 
by this agency. I recur with the most pleasant recollections to a voy- 
age made on the Mohawk with my father in the years 1819 or '20. He 
dismissed our carriage in Utica, and embarked upon a bateau, and 
descended to Schenectady. There were several passengers on board, 
and I think we went on shore both to take our meals and to lodg^ 
The trip was to me of great interest. The downward voyage of the 
bateau was quite rapid and pleasant, but the ascent, which was 
mainly effected by poling, was very slow and laborious. The bateaux 
were used on the Hudson above Albany, and are frequently mentioned 
in the expedition of Burgoyne. They were built long and wide, with 
flat bottoms and usually were not designed for passengers. They were 
generally without decks, but frequently constructed with cabins in 
the stern. They were propelled chiefly by oars and poles, but often 
used sails. 



94 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

of stores and all the people on board ; being detained 
until now for two Bateaux, ordered from Schenec- 
tady. 

19th, arrived at Half Moon, where we were joined 
the 20th, by "William Luckcy, cooper and farmer, to 
get 40s "^ month. 

2l8t, arrived at Robinson. 

22d, arrived at Stillwater. 

23d, arrived at Saratoga. 

24th, arrived at Fort Miller. 

2oth, proceeded up on our way to Fort Edward. 

26th, arrived at Fort Edward, where we were joined 

27tli, by Martin Tayler, farmer, at 458 '^ month. 

1765. 
Journal from I!^ew York to Willsboro. 
May 29th, arrived at Fort George, ^ with all the 
people, cattle. Bateaux and goods, and 

30th, were joined byEliachim Ayres, wagon maker, 
72s "^ month, and Samuel Jackson, blacksmith, 70s "^ 
month. 

'The occupation of the environs of Lake George by military posts, 
and the roads which must have been made to facilitate the movements 
of the British armies in these various campaigns against the hostile 
fortresses on Lake Champlain, had probably rendered the way by 
Eake George, the avenue of intercourse between the Hudson and Lake 
Champlain and Canada. The route either by Skeensboro, the present 
Whitehall, or South bay, unless such facilities existed, would have been 
far more convenient and economical to Gilliland, and would have 
avoided many delays and expenses. As a prominent object in the dis- 
interring of this journal, is to illustrate the progress and change, 
both physical and commercial, the lapse of a century has produced, 
I think it expedient to direct attention to incidents and facts like these, 
however obvious the suggestions may appear to the intelligent reader, 
familiar with the history of the district. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 95 

'N. B. The wages to commence payable to the whole 
after the arrival at "Willsboro ; none being engaged 
for a fixed time save Robert Maclane, who is engaged 
for twelve months after the arrival, and George Will- 
son, to 1st !N'ov. 

31st, embarked at Fort George, for Ticonderoga 
with all the people and goods in the four bateaux, 
and all the cattle in the vessel called the Snow shoe, 
and arrived at Saml Adams, at Sabbath day point, 
where we got the cattle on shore and lodged all night. 

June 1st, arrived at Ticonderoga landing.^ 

2d, busy getting the goods and bateaux acrost the 
landing. 

3d, ditto. 

4th, proceeded to Crown Point where we arrived the 

5th, having left the whole of the cattle there under 
the care of William Luckey,(except 4 oxen left at Ti- 
conderoga with Martin Tayler and my negro man 
Ireland, to haul logs to the saw mill ^ in lieu of 120 
boards got there, and which were rafted down to 
Crown Point by E. Ayres and J. "Wattson,) we pro- 
ceeded the 

7th, from Crown Point to Willsboro, the boards 
having overtaken us that morning at Crown Point. 

'This landing is at thefoot of LakeGeorge, atthepoint where Aber- 
crombie effected his disembarkations. The carrying place is about 
four miles long. 

*Saw mills were erected at an early period of their occupation by 
the French, on the outlet of Lake George. This stream supplies a re- 
markable water power, wliich from its singular equilibrity, capacity, 
and innumerable sites, is probably equal to any upon the continent. 
A saw mill at this place was occupied during the assault of Ticonde- 
roga by Abercrombie. 



96 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

June 8th/ arrived at tlie mouth of the Boquet, pro- 
ceeded up the river to the falls, viewed them there 
with John Chislm in company, who thought it would 
be impracticable to erect mills there except at vast ex- 
pense.^ 

June 8th, upon which we returned a good deal 
dejected to the people whom we left at the river's 
mouth. 

June 9th, Robert Mclane and Eliakim Ayres arrived 
at the river Boquet with the raft of boards, having 
been assisted by Moses Dickson, tailor, who joined us 
the 7th instant, at Crown Point, at 40s per mo. and to 

1 Here commences what Gilliland terms the AVillsboro town book. 

'The Boquet is a beautiful and valuable stream which rises among 
the Adirondacs, and after draining by its affluents a wide territory, 
courses through Essex county, a distance of about forty miles, and 
falls into the Champlain at Willsboro. The origin of this name has 
been a subject of much discussion. In the tradition of the region, it 
has been sometimes referred to Gen. Boquet, a prominent British com- 
mander in the French wars — although he commanded in armies ope- 
rating at the west. I am not aware of any authentic notice of him, 
anterior to the period which originated the name, or in connection 
with the campaigns near Lake Champlain. By others the name is 
supposed to have been derived from the great profusion of wild flowers 
which adorned the banks of the river. The most probable origin, I 
think, is in the French word haquet, trough. This term would 
havebeen remarkablydescriptiveof tbeappearance of <he streambelow 
the falls. The French were scarcely less happy than the aborigines 
in the significant accuracy and force, as well as beauty and euphony, 
of the names they applied to physical objects. The Boquet is still 
navigable for several miles for vessels of considerable burden. A part 
of Burgoyne's flotilla entered this stream, and the legend states that he 
used the trough referred to for the purpose of drilling his sailors in 
the management of the Batteaux. Several British gun-boats, during 
the war of 1812, ran up the Boquet, and bombarded and captured the 
village of Willsboro falls, the original settlement of Gilliland. 



THE CIIA.MPLAIN VALLEY. %7 

be found. Proceeded in company with Robert Machine 
immediately to the falls, who having carefully viewed 
their situation, gave it as his opinion, that several 
mills might be erected there with much ease and small 
expense — which opinion was afterwards found to be 
well founded.^ We then returned to the river's mouth 
well satisfied, and having thrown out our fishing seine, 
we hauled in 60 large fish, being mostly masquenonge, 
bass and pickerel.^ 

^ The presence of this water power, was doubtless the inducement 
which influenced Gilliland in selecting the spot for the creation of hia 
colony. The announcement of its incapacity must have caused great 
disappointment and dejection. The site proved of the liighest value, 
and is still occupied by extensive works. The changes which the 
opening of the country by improvements has uniformly produced in 
this region, is forcibly exemplified by this stream. Its volume of wa- 
ters, at the season mentioned in the text, is scarcely sufficient, and 
I believe in some years, is not adequate by the aid of a massive dam, 
at tliis time, to aiford motive power sufficient to propel the existing 
works. 

2The exuberant supply of fish in Lake Champlain and its affluents, 
when the country was colonized, was among the most attractive fea- 
tures of the region. Tlie muskallonge is often mentioned liy the fisher- 
men of the lake, as a distinct species. The better opinion among na- 
turalists I think, now is, that it is .a variety of the pickerel family. I 
have been assured by the early settlers, that when they first immigrated, 
the salmon were so abundant in some of tlie streams, as to render it 
dangerous to ride through them on a spirited horse ; I have myself seen 
large scliools of this fish, as late as the year 1824 or '2o, from the bridge 
in the village of Plattsburgh. At that time they were taken by the 
spear and seine in great quantities They have now totally disap- 
peared from the waters of the lake Mr. Sheldon mentions a record 
of five liundrcd being taken in a single afternoon from the Boquet. 
Tlie late venerable Levi Iligbby, in formed me tiiat he knew, in the 
year 1823, of fifteen hundred pounds of salmon being taken at one 
haul of a seine near his residence, in Chesterfield. The pickerel of 
the lake is esteemed a secondary fish, often marked by a rank, muddy 

13 



U(S PIONEER HISTORY OF 

June lOtb, proceeded witli the goods towards the Falls, 
and landed tliem in Camp Island.^ Wages commenc- 
ing this da}^ to all, except William Luckey and Mar- 
tin Taylor, whose wages commenced at the time of 
their separation from ns on their respective employ- 
ments. 

11 and 12, cleared a road to the foils from our 
encampment. 

13 and 14, cut down logs to build a dwelling house. 

15, began to erect our house with logs 4-4 feet by 
22.^ 

July 10th, our four carpenters began to cut and 
square timber for the mill, the other hands being em- 
ployed cutting wood for coal, clearing land, &c. All 
the cattle having been brought safe from Crown Point 
some time ago, by four of our people, who having swam 
them across the lake at Crown Point, drove them 
through the woods on the east side to the cloven foot, 

taste. But when transferred inio the ponds of the interior, the influ- 
ence of a change of water and food, imparts a new character to the 
fish. Its shape becomes modified, and it is transformed into a fish of 
an exquisite flavor. 

'Camp Island still retains the name applied to it by Gilliland. 

^Mr. Sheldon states in his valuable notes, that the site of the house is 
still known, and was on the spot now occupied by the hay scales, at 
"VVillsboro Falls. Burgoyne held his memorable Indian council on 
the Boquet and at INIilltown, as the settlement was named by (iilli- 
land. The prominence and importance of this settlement in 1777, is 
attested by the fact, that Burgoyne in advance of his progress, should 
have indicated it as the place for the gathering of the tribes. The 
portion of the redoubt erected on the Bociuc^t, nearly opposite to Camp 
Island, has been preserved by tradition, although cvei-y vestige of it 
has long since been removed by the operations of agriculture. Bur- 
goyne doubtless occupied this house, as the largest and most commodi- 
ous in the region. 



THE CIIAMPLAIN VALLKY. 99 

from tlicnec we ferried tliem to •the cloven rock in a 
scow, hired from New Enghind men, and drove them 
from thence through the woods to Milltown, having 
now given that name to the land at the falls, four of 
our people, viz. : James Stockner, John McAuley, 
Moses Dickson and myself, having brought our four 
hateanx deeply loaded with boards and provisions 
from Crown Point, whilst the others were driving the 
cattle.^ 

10th. Begun to blow up rocks that were in the way 
of our mill-trough, having now judged it useless to 
make a dam, sufficiency of water being obtainable with- 
out it. 

23d. I embarked in company with the Rev. IVIr. 
Henry and Mr William Jones, for Canada, and arrived 
at Montreal ferry, in less than 14 hours, allowing 
about 10 hours delay, while the sloops lay at anchor, 
and at St. Johns. The 24th, we set out in calashes, 
for Quebec; 28th, arrived at Trois rivere, where, Mr, 
Henry being much indisposed, Mr. Jones and I took a 
ride out the 29th, to view the iron works, situated at 

1 The lake at Crown Point is about one fourth of a mile wide. This 
incident, which exposed the cattle to so great a risk, illustrates the 
condition at that period of the country. An unbroken wilderness of 
primeval forest and rugged mountains extended from Crown Point to 
the province of Canada. It was penetrated only by secret paths trod- 
den by the Indian and thp scout. Immediately north of the penin- 
sula of Crown Point, a spur of the Adirondacks projects into the lake 
a precipitous promontory now known as Bulwaggy mountain. A 
modern road has been constructed at the base of this projection 
with great toil and difBculty, but at that period the rocks and pre- 
cipices formed an impenetrable barrier to the passage of a herd of 
cuttle. 



100 PIONEER IIISKJRY OF 

9 miles distance from the town. We found them 
greatly out of repair, no ore, iron or fuel. Very little 
water, and the carriage of their ore and fuel, l)eing 
not less than 9 miles, all by land. We embarked on 
a bateau, at Trois rivere, about 8 in the morning, of 
the 30th July, and arrived at Quebec about 10 that 
night ; my business detained me at Quebec, until the 
IGth of August, having visited Mount Morency falls, 
Wolfs cove, Point Levi, Mr, Macord's farm, and Mr. 
Frazier's at St. Charles, 18 miles from Quebec. We 
then set out for Montreal on said 16th of August, I 
mean Mr. Jones and myself, having left Mr. Henry 
at Quebec, where he was so greatly encouraged to 
stay, that even I could not avoid recommending it to 
him, to give Quebec the preference. 

The 19th of August, arrived at Bertie,^ opposite 
the mouth of the Sorell, which, being desirous to see, 
on account of its connection with Lake Champlain, I 
hired an interpreter and canoe, and crossed the River 
St. Lawrence there, distance from Bertie being com- 
puted at four miles ; sounded Sorell river 9 miles up, 
shallowest channel, depth 21 feet; deep enough for 
any vessel 3 or 4 miles further, the land mostly very 
sand}^, particularly on the east side, where it is almost 
barren, as far as that Seniori (of Sorell) extends up the 
river, being about nine miles, and it is held at a high 
price notwithstanding.^ 

'This was probably the Provincials' pronunciation of Berthier. 

2 This incident exhibits the peculiar habits of Gilliland, in energetic 
research and observation, and the forecast and vigilance with which 
be promoted the interest of hig colony. 



THE CIIAMrLAIN VALLEY. 101 

The 20tli August, returned to Bertie, and 21st, pro- 
ceeded to Montreal, where arrived that night. 

2-l:th August, set out from Montreal for Willsboro, 
having bought many necessaries there for the settlers, 
and arrived at St. John that night, engaged my pas- 
sage with Capt. Leaky on the 25th, had a tedious pas- 
sage across the Lake, having been detained by calms 
and contrary wind, until Slst August; when I was 
put on shore at the river's mouth, at 9 o'clock that 
night, and walked through the woods for Milltown, 
where I arrived at half past 10, having been absent on 
my journey to Canada, 40 days ; on my arrival I 
found that on the 

25tli July, it was agreed that the following persons 
should go to the meadows,^ and there make hay suffi- 

« ^I cannot determine whether the meadows referred to, are the 
marshes created by the spring overflowing of the low alluvials upon 
the shores of the lalce, or those formed by the labors of the beaver, 
upon streams. I conjecture they were the latter. Both of these forma- 
tions were of the utmost benefit to the pioneers in the settlement of a 
new country, before they were able to produce fodder by cultivation. 
The bay cut upon the marshes is very inferior to that cured from cul- 
tivated grasses. Its growth upon these natural meadows, is usually 
a coarse and harsh grass intermingled with rushes, brakes and ferns. 
In places more elevated, a better quality of hay is produced. The 
beaver meadows are formed by the art of these wonderful animals, 
that with almost human sagacity, select an appropriate locality 
which is a low flat, intersected by a small stream. Upon this, they 
erect a dam, and flooding the flat, destroy all vegetation upon the area 
covered by the pond, which is thus created. This becomes the abode 
of the beaver. The country is filled with vestiges of their works. 
When the dam is broken, and the water resumes its original channel, 
the surface of the land over which the pond had spread, is found de- 
nuded of every tree and bush. The indigenous grasses spring up 
spontaneously, and there form a permanent meadow, from which hay 
is made much superior to that alforded by the marshes. 



102 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

cient for all our cattle, the charges for which to be 
borne by the owners of the cattle, respectively in pro- 
portion to the cattle they have, in which proportion 
they are to have their dividend of hay, viz : 

William Luckey, 



Haymakers and 
^Road clearers. 



Tvr *• rp 1 f Mowers. 

Martin Taylor, 

James Stocker, 

Robert Macawley, 

John McAuley, 

George Belton, 

Moses Dickson, 

Sept. 12th, this day, with all the above mentioned, 
returned from the meadows, having finished the mak- 
ing of the company's hay, it being put up in tramp 
cocks, as follows ; 

11 tramp cocks in Elizabeth meadow. 

9 " " in Little swamp meadow. 

15 " " in Cloven rock meadow. 

In all 35 tramp cocks.^ 

N. B. William Luckey and Martin Taylor, having 
agreed to cut and make hay for their own cattle, are 
not to get any of the above, nor chargeable with any of 
the expense of making it, but are to be paid their wa- 
ges whilst at it, and their wages to cease from 12 Sep. 
to 23 Sep., when they again began to work for me, 

'Trampt Cocks. This phrase, which is unknown to our agriculture 
quite puzzled me, but on reference to Stevens's Book of the Farm, I 
find he speaks of trat7iplcd picks. These, from his description, I infer 
are identical with our slacks built on the open ground, and which 
are carefully trampled by the builder in the construction. The above 
names distinguish localities several miles asunder. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 103 

liaviDg made 4 tramp cocks of hay for tlieir own cat- 
tle, in the Cloven rock meadow.^ 

Sep 18th, employed Wm. Lawson, mason, to build 
a double chimney in my house at Milltown. 

19th, set out on a survey, and layed out the follow- 
ing lots of land between the Bouquet river, and Cloven 
rock, and adjoining the lake, viz.,^ 

Lot No. 1, extending from the river, southwesterly 
to a small heap of stones on the shore of the lake about 
4 yards east of which is a black rock, and west is sev- 
eral marked trees,. and extends west to the river Bo- 
quet. 

Lot No. 2, is bounded northerly by lot No. 1, south 
line and beginning at the forementioned heap of stones, 
runs west one hundred and twenty chains, south fif- 
teen chains and east to the lake, containing 200 acres. 

1 The Cloven Rock, since, with much less euphony called Split 
rock, and by the French in their forcible nomenclature named Roche 
rendu, is one of the most remarkable physical features upon Lake 
Champlain. It contains about an half acre, rising in naked perpendic- 
ular rocky sides nearly thirty feet from the water, and is separated 
from the level promontory upon which the light house stands by a fis- 
sure about ten feet in width. Its position and appearance have sug- 
gested the theory that it has been detached from the adjacent head- 
land by its own gravity, or by some shock of nature, but I apprehend 
that it has been separated, probably by the gradual attrition of the 
earth and disintegration of the rocks, through the action of the elements. 
Guide books describe an abyss of five hundred feet in depth, divid- 
ing the rock from the promontory. When I visited it and walked 
through the fissure, it was two feet above the level of the lake ; al- 
though, generally the water flows through the chasm. 

' The tract of land included in this survey, embraces pordons of the 
present town of Willsboro and Essex, and is inferior to no tract of the 
same size in the state, for beauty of position, native fertility, and high 
culture. 



104 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Lot No. 3, holds the south line of lot 'No. 2 for its 
northern boundar}^, beginning at a small-heap of stones 
on the shore of the lake, and runs west 120 chains 
(passing by a small poplar and several other marked 
trees near the lake) ; thence south 15 chains ; thence 
east to the lake ; then holding the edge of the lake for 
its eastern front till the place begun : containing 200 
acres. 

IsT. B. This lot is engaged by James Stocker, who 
gives it the name of Stocker's rock. 

Lot No. 4, is bounded by lot No. 8 on the north- 
ward, and begins at a small heap of stones around a 
willow at the edge of the lake, and runs west (past a 
marked poplar tree on the bank) 120 chains, south 15 
chains to a marked white birch tree on the bank, and 
a small heap of stones on the shore of the lake, and 
thence to the place of beginning, along the shore of the 
lake, and contains 200 acres. This lot is taken up by 
Kobert Macawle^-. 

Lot No. 5, begins at a small heap of stones at the 
edge of the lake and being bounded northerly by the 
south line of lot No. 4, runs west (by a white birch 
marked tree on the bank of the lake) 120 chains ; 
thence south 15 chains; thence east to two marked 
spruce trees on the bank, and a small heap of stones 
on the shore of the lake, then along the edge of the 
lake, to the place of beginning: containing 200 acres. 
This lot is taken by John McAuley. 

N. B. There was no allowance made to any of 
the foregoing lots being neglected in laying them 
out.^ 

' The allowance, here referred to, was, I suppose, an excess in the 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 105 

Lot No. 6, or Elizabetli, begins at last mentioned 
heap of stones at the edge of the lake, and runs thence 
west (passing the two spruce trees on the hank) to the 
river Bouquet, then along said river to a point that 
lies west of a certain stream's mouth on the south side 
of Elizabeth,^ then east to the lake at the mouth of 
said stream, then northly along the lake to the place 
of beginning: containing acres. 

Lots No. 7, and No. 8, are bounded on the north by 
the south line of Elizabeth, and beginning at the mouth 
of the aforementioned stream at the edge of the lake; 
runs thence west 126 chains ; thence south 30 chains ; 
thence east to a small heap of stones on a rock at the 
edige of the lake, there being a small hemlock tree 
marked on the bank ; then to the place of beginning 
along the lake shore : containing 400 acres. 

Lot No. 9, begins at last mentioned heap of stones 
and running past said hemlock marked tree, goes west 
110 chains ; then south 10 chains ; then east to the , 
lake, where the bank being high, there are a number 
of saplings cut on it that hang over, and a small oak 
tree marked a few yards from the bank's edge ; then 
along the lake northerly to the place of beginning: 
containing 100 acres. 

survey, intended foi- the construction of roads and other public con- 
veniences. Sucli allowances were formerly made in the location of 
all patents in the early surveys of the country. 

^ Elizabeth. This name frequently occurs in the journal, and 
designates I suppose the site of the village of Essex. It was given to 
this localiiy in honor of his wife or daughter. The name of Elizabeth 
town, which at a later period was attached to a township in the inte- 
rior, is a different location but had the same origin. Willsboro, he 
derived from his own name, and we shall notice other places, desig- 
nated by the names of various members of his family. 

14 



lOG PIONEER IIIS'R!UY OF . 

Lot No. 10, begins at the edge of the lake aud run- 
ning past the hist mentioned oak marked tree goes west 
122 chains ; south 15 chains ; then east to the lake, 
passing by several marked trees near the bank, partic- 
ularly a dead poplar close to the bank's edge, and then 
along the edge of the lake to the place of beginning : 
containing 200 acres. 

Lot No. 11, begins at the last mentioned poplar tree 
and runs west 122 chains ; south 15 chains ; east to an 
unmarked large cedar tree that hangs over the edge 
of tlie lake, passing by several marked trees not far 
from it; then northerly along the lake shore to the 
place of beginning : containing 200 acres. 

Lot ISTo. 12, begins at last mentioned hanging cedar 
tree, and running past several marked trees goes west 
120 chains; then south 1 chain; then east to a small 
billberr\' tree st-anding on the bank of the lake; then 
alongthe edge of the lake northerly to where this tract 
first beo-an : containin<»: 200 acres. G. B. 

N. B. At the request of George Ilicks and John 
King, I have divided Lot 13, as described underneath 
between the above Lot No. 12, and the Lot 14, on the 
next page. This makes Lot No, 12, 20 chains front, 
which I have made two lots of 100 acres each of, and 
have given these the names of Lot No. 12, and Lot No. 
13, the former of which being the northernmost is 
granted to JohnKing, and the southernmost being No. 
13, I have granted to George Ilicks; this partition was 
made 21 Oct. 1767, and by it the Lot No. 14, has 
become a 200 acre lot.^ 

Lot No. 13, begins at the edge of the lake, east of 

1 This paragraph is interpolated bj' Gilliland. 



Tin: CII.VMPLAIX VALT.KY. 107 

the last mentioned billbcrry tree, and runs then west 
100 chains ; then south 10 chains; then east to 2 hirge 
stones on tlie sliore of the hike, over which hangs a 
hemlock, cedar and birch trees; then along the lake 
northerly to the place of beginning : containing 100 
acres. 

Lot 1^0. 14, begins at last mentioned 2 large stones, 
and runs past several marked trees, west 100 chains ; 
then south 10 chains ; then east to a small black oak, 
marked on the bank of the lake, northerly to the place 
of befjinnins;: containing 100 acres. 

(Interpolated) this lot extends 5 chains further north 
and 20 chains further west, which makes it 200 acres. 
See last page. 

Lot No. 15, begins at last mentioned black oak tree 
and extends west 96 chains; south 10 chains, and 
thence east to a pitch pine standing on the north side 
of the end of a point at the lake ; then along the edge 
of the lake to the place of beginning: containing 100 
acres. 

Lot No. 16, begins at last mentioned pitch pine, and 
extends thence west 102 chains ; south 10 chains; then 
to a marked hemlock tree standing at the edge of the 
lake ; then along the lake northerly to the place of 
besrinnino;: containing 100 acres. 

Lot No. 17, begins at last mentioned hemlock 
tree, and goes west 101 chains ; south 10 chains ; then 
east to a heap of stones on the shore (passing by a 
marked white cedar tree on the bank); then along the 
lake's edge to the place of beginning: containing 100 
acres. 

Lot No. 18, begins at last mentioned heap of stones 



108 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

unci runs west (past a marked cedar tree that stands on 
the bank) 100 chains ; then south 10 chains ; then east 
to a poplar marked tree, that stands at the edge of 
the lake ; then along the lake northerly to the place 
where this lot first begins : containing 100 acres. 

Lot ]^o. 19, begins at last mentioned poplar tree, 
and runs west 100 chains ; south 10 chains ; east to a 
white birch tree and heap of stones at the edge of the 
lake, and northerly along the edge of the lake to the 
place begun at : containing 100 acres. 

Lot Xo. 20, begins at last mentioned heap of stones, 
and runs thence west 100 chains ; south 10 chains ; 
and east to a white birch tree and heap of stones on 
the strand of the lake (having a white pine tree a few 
yards west of the bank of the lake) ; then northerly 
along the edge of the lake to the place of beginning : 
containing 100 acres. 

Lot Xo. 21, begins at last mentioned heap of stones, 
and runs thence west 100 chains; thence south 10 
chains ; then east to a heap of stones and dead hickory 
tree at the edge of the lake, the stones being round 
the tree, and the letters R. M. being marked on the 
south side of it ; then along the lake northerly to the 
place of beginning : containing 100 acres. 

Lot Xo. 22, begins at last mentioned dead hickory 
and heap of stones, and runs thence west 120 chains ; 
south 15 chains ; then east to a heap of stones at the 
edge of the lake, having four birch trees growing 
from the root on the adjoining bank, with the letters 
R. M. marked on the north side, and the letters G. W. 
marked on the south side of one of the birch trees : 
containing 200 acres. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 109 

^. B. this lot was chosen and engaged by Eohert 
MacLane who gives it the name of Enniskelling.^ 

Lot No. 23, begins at last mentioned heap of stones, 
and runs thence west 120 chains ; thence south 15 
chains ; then east to a bunch of trees on the edge of 
the lake ; and thence along the edge of the lake to the 
place of beginning: containing 200 acres. 

K. B. This lot was chosen and taken up by George 
■Williams, who gives it the name of Killeen. 

Lot No. 24, begins at last mentioned bunch of trees, 
and runs thence west 124 chains; thence south 10| 
chains ; thence east 137 chains to a poplar tree on the 
bank of the lake ; then north, 40 degrees west, along 
the bank of the lake to the place of beginning: 

A. R. P. 
containing 133. 2. 38. 

N. B. This lot is taken up by George Belton, who 
in conjunction with William Luckey, give this Lot 
and the Lot No. 25, the name of Little Britain. 

A. R. P. 

The parallelogram being 124 chains by 10)i chains, contains 127. 0. 16. 

The Triangle No. -2, being 10 ch. 25 links perpend'^ _. .„. 6 2 22 



IK 10 ch. 25 links perpend'^ 
'13 *• 00 " Base, > contains, 
16 " 56 " Hipottl' ^ 



Laid down by a scale of 40 chains to one Inch. Acres, 133. 2. 33. 

Lot No. 25, begins at last mentioned poplar tree, 
and runs thence west 137 chains ; south 10^ chains ; 
thence east 145 chains and 79 links, to a tree standing 
on the shore of the lake marked H. W. (beiiig about 2 
chains distant from that point of the shore of the lake 
that's on the same meridian with Wattson's hut) ; 

iThe colonists were Irishmen and these familiar Celtic names attest 
their characteristic genial memory of their native land. 



110 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

then north, 45 cleg, west 15 chains to a heap of stones 
which lie about J chain east of the poplar tree begun 
at : containing 

]^. B. This lot is taken up by William Luckey, who 
in conjunction with George Belton, gives it and lot 
No. 24, the name of Little Britain.^ 



No. 1, being 137 chains by 10>4 chains, contains 140. 1. 23, 

No. 2, being the Triangle, whoso base is 10 ch. So linksi 

Perpend' 8 '• 79 " > contains 5. 2- 14. 

Hypothenuse 15 " " > 

Acres, 147. 0. 2. 

Monday, 6th October, 1763, went in a bateau to 
visit my tract of land at Cumberland bay, in company 
with John Chislm, Eliakem Ayres, John Waltron and 
James Stocker, on our passage, went ashore on the 2 
most western of the 4 Islands, found the most east- 
ward of those being largest of the 4 to contain 4 or 5 
acres of choice land, and the westward one is rich, 
but all covered with brush, it may be about 3 acres,^ 

^ I have copied these minute surveys, I think foi' sufficient reasons. 
They evince the care and precision, as well as activity of Gilliland in 
the conduct of his affairs, and are interesting to antiquarian research. 
Jones's Patent, which was the first location he made, still embraces 
Milltown or Willsboro Falls, and six other patents, which I suppose 
he also located, are now laid down on the county map, between the 
Boquetand Split rock, and hence it may be important to perpetuate a 
record of the subdivisions he established by these surveys. 

* These are a beautiful cluster of islands lying nearly in the center 
of Lake Champlain. They occupy almost the four cardinal points, 
and are now called the Four Brothers, a name far less imaginative 
than that given them by the French, ;who called them Isles des 
quatre vent. I have before alluded to the poetry and illustrative 
power of the French nomenclature. The unimpressible Briton was 
far less happy in the designation of physical objects. Like the abo- 
riginal, the French system of names has been too often superseded 
by descriptive terms much inferior, both in beauty and appropriate- 



THE CIIAMPLAIN VALLEY. Ill 

then passed close by Scliyler's Island, or Isle Chapon, 
which looks at a distance but dry stony light ground, 
little worth.i 

About six in the evening, arrived at the high sandy 
clift's, and encamped there. Between these is a grass 
swamp containing, I think about 150 acres without 
any trees, but is deep covered with water.^ 

Seventh ; this morning moved from our encamp- 

ness. The environs of this lake, afford constant examples of these 
tasteless changes. The French called one of the loftiest peaks of the 
Green Mountains, with most impressive force, the Lion Couchant, 
which the English distinguish by the colder and coarser name of 
Camel's Hump. 

iThis island, which is of some magnitude, lies near the western 
shore of the lake, and opposite Douglas bay. This name was ap- 
plied to it, as appears from the text, previous to the Revolution. The 
origin of the name is attributed by tradition, to the circumstance 
that John Schuyler, in the expedition against Canada in 1690, en- 
camped with his forces for some time upon the island. It was known 
to the French as Isle Chapon. 

Douglas bay at one period was called Corlear's bay. Corlear, the 
founder of Schenectady, the savior of the French army of De Coucelle, 
and the beneficent friend of the Indians, was drowned in this lake, 
and the appropriation of his name to this bay, seems to locate there 
the scene of the catastrophe. 

2 The southern of these cliffs is now occupied by the residence of 
the Editor, and I am able from personal obsei'vation, to attest the 
accuracy of Mr. Gilliland's description of the whole district. I am 
confident of the actual position of his encampment that night. Im- 
mediately at the northern slope of the cliff, there is a small but pict- 
uresque dell, in which a perennial fountain wells up, and gliding 
through a verdant plat of native grasses discharges into the lake. 
This fountain is widely known as the Cold spring. The relics 
occasionally found here, indicate it to have been in other generations, 
an Indian resort; and even now on a summer morning, we often find 
an Indian encampment of a few tents, which had been extemporized 
in the tlell the night before. 



112 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

ment to the above mentioned river, wliicli I call the 
Cullen water, and there found it alive with ducks and 
geese. It is about a mile to northward of the south 
side of the most northernlj sandy clitf, and on the 
south side of it is a grass swamp of about 70 acres.^ 

Put on our potts at the mouth of this river, which 
is about 60 yards wide, and proceeded up it in 
order to discover its falls, and their distance from the 
lake. 

First station from lake up the river, is south 88 
degrees west, almost 15 chains; south 70 degrees W. 
8 chains; north 50 degrees W., 16 chains to a grass 
swamp of 50 acres, and a dead creek, being north 65 
degrees W. ; then north 60 degrees W., 6 chains; 
north 20 degrees "W., 10 chains; north 50 degrees east, 

1 There is a mistake here, as I find no previous mention of a river. 
The Cullen Water of Gilliland is a branch of the Au Sable river, 
which was the name appropriately given to the stream by the French, 
and which it still retains. The characteristics referred to by Mr. 
Gilliland, to a great extent, continue to distinguish it. 

These grass swamps are natural meadows, which have been gradu- 
ally reclaimed from shallow bays of the lake by the alow processes of 
nature. They are now termed marshes, and are valuable for the hay 
they produce. They are essentially created by accretions and allu- 
vial deposits. A pole fifteen or twenty feet in length, may in places, 
be thrust through the soil without striking the hard pan. These 
marshes may afford an unlimited supply of the richest peat, or muck, 
for agricultural purposes. The process of accumulation is slow but 
constantly advancing. My own experience on the swamp, men- 
tioned in the preceding paragraph, illustrates this fact. I now plow 
parcels of land, which twenty years ago were inaccessible to cattle. 
Instead of being "deep covered with water" on the Gth of October, 
as he describes it to have been, we are generally engaged in mowing 
it at about that period, and in the year 18tJ], teams were driven upon 
it in gathering hay. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 113 

15 chains to a branch that runs east to the lake; south 
57 degrees west, 10 chains to the junction of three 
branches, then up the middle branch, north 80 west, 
9 chains, when we found the left hand branch to be 
occasioned by a small island; then south 60 west, 3 
chains to rapids that are passable for bateaux, the 
same course 28 chains, smooth good water, the river 
twice as large as Boquet and more ; then an island, 
main channel on right hand going up, then from the 
near point of the island, west about 4 chains to rapids. 
Then south 10 chains ; then south 60 degrees west, 35 
chains; then south 10 degrees east, 20 chains; then 
from south-east to south-west about 120 chains to the 
falls, which we judge to be about 12 feet; in this place 
the river formed into a most curious canal ; this is a 
prodigious rock. It is a most admirable sight, appear- 
ing on each side like a regular built wall, somewhat 
ruinated, and one would think that this prodigious 
cleft was occasioned by an earthquake, their height on 
each side is from 40 to 100 feet in the different places; . 
we saw about half a mile of it, and by its appearance 
when we stopped, it may continue many miles further.' 

iThis desci-iption of the Au Sable and its delta, is most liappy and 
eminently accurate. It affords an example of the remarkable decrease 
in the volume of water now prevailing in the streams of the country, 
compared with their proportions a century ago. It would be totally 
impracticable for a boat to ascend the river at this time as described 
by Gilliland. 

The text contains the earliest notice I have seen, either in manu- 
script or print, of this wonderful exhibition of the operations of 
Nature. The eye rarely contemplates a more imposing spectacle than 
is presented by the passage of the Au Sable through its "walled 
banks." In the vicinity of Keesville, the river forces its way between 
lofty embankments of sandstone, and glides gently through alow valley 

15 



114 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Returned to the mouth of this Eiver through the 
ITorth Branch, to our encamping ground, where we 
stayed this night, and found the island that is enclosed 
between those two branches to be an unprofitable 
drowned swamp. 

Eighth ; set out this morning from Eiver Au Sable, 
northerly and about a mile to the northward thereof, 

until it rushes over a precipice which forms a cataract of singular beau- 
ty. It rolls from this point along a rocky bed to the village of 
Birmingham, where it abruptly leaps into a deep, murky chasm of 
sixty feet in depth. A bridge with a single abutment resting upon a 
rock that divides the stream, spans the river at the head of this fall, 
and greatly adds to the picturesque aspect of the scene. This bridge 
is usually enveloped in a cloud of mist and spray, and the whole vicin- 
ity is dank with their moisture. In the winter, the frostwork decorates 
the rocks and trees with the most fantastic and gorgeous tracery. 
Here we discern massive columns and arcades, and there icy diamonds 
and pendants glittering in the sun. In the sunshine, a brilliant rainbow 
spreads continually its radiant arch across the gulf. The river at 
this precipice leaps into the embraces of a dark gulf, where for 
neai-ly a mile it moves along almost concealed from observation. Its 
impetuous volume now pours along a natural canal, carved out of 
the rock by the hand of nature, and now it darts wildly down a preci- 
pice. The wall rises on each side in a perpendicular height from fifty 
to one hundred and fifty feet, while the width of the chasm rarely ex- 
ceeds thirty feet, and frequently the opposite walls approach within 
ten feet to each other. From this main ravine, which embraces the 
river, lateral fissures are projected through the rock at nearly right 
angles. The abyss is reached along oneof these crevices, bya stairway 
of two hundred and twelve steps. These walls are formed of layers 
of sand stone, constructed with a formation almost as exact as the 
most artistic masonry. The pine and cedars which spring from the 
apertures in the rock, spread over the gulf a dark and appropriate 
canopj'. All these features form a combination that impresses upon 
the scene an effect inexpressivly wild, picturesque and beautiful. The 
agency by which this work has been created, is a problem which affords 
a wide scope for animated but doubtful speculation. 



THE CHAM PLAIN VALLEY. 115 

being on the north side of a long point, discovered a 
considerable creek whicli from the many thousands of 
ducks we saw there we called Duck Creek ; we pen- 
etrated it and found that it is made by an overflow of 
the lake into a large grass swamp which was well cov- 
ered with good wild grass fit for hay.^ 

The ninth, I traveled about 300 acres up the creek, 
until I lost it, which was about a mile, here I walked 
on dry land round its most westerly end and came to 
the lake on the north side of it, having gone from the 
lake up the south side. Proceeded, through the woods 
from Duck Creek about a mile, until I came to a con- 
siderable creek of still water, which from the number 
of trees we saw cut by beavers, we call Beaver River, 
went up this river about half a mile, no appearance of 
Falls, but hope to discover them before the end of 2 
miles :^ the land adjoining being richly covered with 
the best of white and black oak, and white and yellow 
pine, the land very good from this creek, to the begin- 
ning of the Sergeants Land, which is about ^ of a mile, 
and it is valuable to a chain or two south of Duck 
Creek on account of the great meadow.^ 

iln this paragraph, Mr. Gilliland adopts the French name of this 
river. The long point mentioned still exists, but largely extended 
by the accumulation of sand brought down by the current of the Au 
Sable. The stream remains very much in the condition described by 
Mr.Gilliland, and is now called Dead Creek. The allusion to "good 
■wild grass fit for hay," is another instance of his close and discrimi- 
nating observation. The grass yielded by this tract is still remarkaUe 
for the quality of the hay it affords, and its superiority to the common 
marsh grasses. 

^Beaver river is now called the Little Au Sable, and is only na- 
vigable to the point mentioned by Mr. Gilliland during the spring 
floods. His theory in i-cference to falls was just. 

'Sergeants land: The allotments to the reduced officers were south 



116 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Proceeded from Beaver meadow through the woods 
to the Sergeant's land which begms at a large white 
oak tree a few yards from the strand, and is marked 
A on the east side. From hence proceeded to within 
about a mile of Cragan River to Doe Run, which is a 
small stream that empties itself into the lake in a small 
bay west of the south side of Isle Valcour, and found 
the land to be very good this far, and from its appear- 
ance may be good for half a mile further, but begins to 
be more ordinary witli a mixture of quaking ash, some 
hemlock and spruce, not much oak, a little or no pine, 
to a rapid stream that has water enough for a grist mill, 
this we call Indian brook, and so from thence to Cragan 
River, which I take to be about the north end of Stew- 
art's tract ; went up this river about 100 yards to a 10 
feet falls, by carrying the water 45 yards ; this is a noble 
situation for a saw mill, as a dam can be made by a few 
hands in a day. Here is water for two mills and dead 
water to the foot of the falls.^ 

The pine ridge begins about a mile to the northwest 
of these falls, which is the next pine to them and it 

of this line, and here evidently begcan the patents to the non-commis- 
sioned officers, while those of the privates were probably located in a 
different section. 

^This Indian brook, is dwarfed into an insignificant run, and 
shorn of all these qualities of usefulness ascribed to it by Gilliland. 

The Cragan river and elsewhere called in the journal St. Aren- 
ack, is the modern Salmon river. The privilege is still occupied, al- 
though the " dead water" beneath the falls is no longer navigable. 
The property at the mouth of this stream, which Mr. Gilliland named 
Janesboro, amid all the mutations and disasters which enshrouded 
the close of his life, seems to have been preserved to the family. It 
was held by his son and is still the residence of his grandsons Messrs. 
William and Henry P. Gilliland. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 117 

continues to Savaniac river, and tlie land is ordinary 
between these, but worst next the last named river. 
But by its appearance, is good after you are about a 
mile west from the lake, very pretty pines in this ridge 
but not large, yet handy saw logs, these nearest the 
last named river being the best, and there the ridge 
inclines nearest the lake being on the very bank ; pro- 
ceeded about two miles up this river, which proved to 
be much larger than Boquet and rapid from its mouth 
up ; at about 400 yards from the lake there ia a rift, 
where the water may be conveniently lifted and by 
carrying it about 200 yards, will produce a fall of about 
10 feet, which with 2 feet that may be raised by a 
small stoney dam will be enough for a mill.' 

The land appears extremely well on the north side 
of this creek (?) and abounds with choice oak and pine 
timber, mixed, but notwithstanding but light with a 
sandy bottom, but still may produce a good hearty crop 
to the distance of about half a mile north of the river 
where the land grows worse. But the pinery is much 
better for half a mile more, when the pinery ends and 
the land improves.^ 

1 The Savaniac. This is the modern Saranac. The derivation 
of the name of this valuable and now historical stream is doubtful; 
until the researches of late years I had attributed it to an Indian ori- 
gin. The river is called St. Armant on some old French maps. In 
the Gilliland papers the name St. Aranack appears, but is applied 
perhaps erroneously to the Salmon river. Has not the French term 
by a gradual corruption been changed into Saranac, and transposed 
from the smaller to the more important stream. I find nowhere else 
the term Saranac applied to this river. This estimate of the vast 
water power at the mouth of the Saranac is perfectly correct. 

2 This description of the country contiguous to the Saranac is very 
accurate and appreciative. The word pinery, which evidently re- 



118 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

For another half mile, to five chains to the north- 
eastward of the southwest end of a long sandy beach at 
the bottom of Cumberland bay, in the whole of this tract 
at about a mile distance from the lake the land appears 
to be ver^^good, from thence from 6 to 12 miles back to 
the mountains being mostly covered with oak, ash, 
maple, beech, hickory, bass, elm &c. without any mixt- 
ure of evergreen ; from the end of the said five chains 
to Cumberland creek, the land and timber is very bad, 
opposite to it having a fine sandy beach a mile and a 
half long. Cumberland river is a black dead creek, 
no appearance of rapid or falls, but a fall could be 
forced.^ 

On the south side of this creek is a pitch pine marked 
A, at which Lieut. Lowe's tract begins, and takes in 
the whole of that Peninsula, which I walked over, 
and found the land to be deep and rich, no way hilly 
or broken, the timber chiefly oak and these of the best 
kind, without evergreens and very little poplar or quak- 
ing ash except a trifle on its shores, and the situation 
is most beautiful and he;artsome, projecting near four 
miles into the lake, though only from one and a quarter 
to one and a half miles in width ; from the bottom 
of Cumberland we proceeded homeward on Friday 
the eleventh of October, and arrived that night, on 

fers to a pine forest, is unknown to our woodcraft. That, like the 
language " hearty crop, " is a foreign term. 

1 Cumberland river, is most aptly described as a "black dead 
creek." At its mouth in certain direction of the wind, quicksands dan- 
gerous and almost unfathomable are frequently formed. The stream 
is now designated Dead creek. The descriptions of this district are 
all perfectly faithful. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 119 

our passage viewing the Islands Saint Michael, Yalcour, 
and Chapou or Schjder Island, all of which we found 
ordinary, light, rocky, stony land, and ill timbered.^ 

Eeturned home the 18th Oct., and employed my 
time from now to 31st Oct., in laying out lots, filling 
leases,^ and settling accounts with the people, and gave 
the following leases, viz. : 

John Chism, Lot No. 1, containing — acres. 

Robt. McLane, " 2, " " 

Eoht. McAwley, " 4, " " 

John King and G. Hicks, 

George Wilson, " 23, " " 

George Belton, " 24, " " 

William Luckey, " 25, " " 

Mires Dixon, " 26, " " 

Martin Tayler, " 27, " " 

Eliakim Ayers, " 28, " " 

November 4th. This day I gave possession to the 
lessees (?) Ayers, Taylor, Dixon, Chism, McLane, 
McAwley, Wilson, Belton, and Luckey. I proceeded 
to Crown Point, where I engaged prov. for my settle- 

iSt. Michael's island lies in Cumberland bay, was known as Crab 
island, and subseouently Hospital island, from the circumstance that 
the wounded of both fleets were landed upon it after the battle of the 
11th Sep. 181-1. Valcour is the largest island in the lake embraced in 
the territory of New York, and possesses gieat historical interest. In 
one of its bays was fought the sanguinary battle between Carlton and 
Arnold. On the opposite side the fleet of Amherst vanquished the 
French flotilla and extinguished the last vestige of the domination of 
France upon Lake Champlain. The theatre of McDonough's victory 
lies between the northern extremity of Valcour and Cumberland head. 

"^ Filling Leases. This language indicates the system of leasing 
which Gilliland had adopted in his colony, and which was pursued 
until subsequent to the Revolution. 



120 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

nient until summer next and then continued my journey 
to New York, where I arrived the 20th November.^ 

7th ISTov., this evening the SBatteaux returned from 
Crown Point loaded with provisions. 

11th Nov., dispatched 3 Batteaux to Crown Point 
for some of the provision, and they returned loaded 
the 14th.2 

17th Nov., began to make a road from Milltown 
to R. McAwley's barn. 

20th and 21st Nov., Wm. Luckey, and John "Wat- 
son divided the hay. 

24th Nov., began to clear a road to south itieadow 
from the lake, and to make a yard for cattle at Wm. 
Luckey's lot. 

29th Nov., Began to look for the cattle, having sent 
out 3 men. 

2d Dec, this morning began a snow storm, being 
found to be the first lying snow, and this day complet- 
ed the road to McAwley's, which in all took 33 hands 
for one day. 

3d Dec, began to make a road from McAwley's to 
Elizabeth bay. Yesterday we got the first part of 
our cattle, 6 in number. 

iThe journal of proceedings during bis absence is in the writing of 
Mr. Gilliland, and was probably formed from tbe memoranda of his 
steward. 

^This resort to Crown Point for supplies shows it to have been at 
that period a place of business. The early condition, and extent and 
character of the settlement at Crown Point is a subject which has 
stimulated earnestly my antiquarian interests and investigation. I 
think the evidences quite decisive that it was previous to the Revolu- 
tion, and especially during the French invasion, a village of considera- 
ble population, and extended business relations with both Canada 
and the British colonies. I have disclosed my views on this question 
in a previous page. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 121 

4th Dec, Excessive cold, the snow deep, McLane, 
and Ayers began to make shingles at Luckey's. 

7th Dec, McLane and Ayers returned home. 

10th Dec, raised our barn. 

24th Dec, this day the lake opposite Willsboro 
froze up.^ 

1766, 1st Jan., the severe cold obliged our hands to 
quit the road this day at Eliz* point and come home. 

2d Jan., from this time to the ISth, employed the 
men cutting logs, fire wood, &c 

Jan. 15th, sent hands to complete the road to 
Eliz"' meadow which was effected in two days. Snow 2 
feet deep. 

17th Jan., sent hands to finish the road to Eliz'' point 
which was completed by the 24th Jan., which made it 
clear from the Mills to Eliz^ meadow.^ 

28th Jan., sent 2 men with a team of oxen to Eliz* 
meadow for hay, and they did not return to 1st Feb- 
ruary. This was the first hay sent for. 

1st Feb., this day all the cattle were brought to ]Mill- 
town from Wm. Luckey's. 

2d Feb., sent the cattle to Eliz* meadow, save 2 
weak cows which kept at home, and 4 oxen to draw 
fire wood and saw logs. And sent hands to make a 
yard for the hay and do. for the cattle atEliz'' meadow. 

13th Feb., all the stock of sugar and molasses were 
quite expended. 

loth Feb., All the 8bbl. pork and 3 carcases of beef 

1 This is mueli earlier tban the average time of the lake's closing by 
the ice. 

2 These localities called Elizabeth, were at and near the present 
village of Essex. 

16 



122 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

being finished. J. "VV. set out for Crown Point for 
sweetening which he sent home the 20th. 

27th Feb.,. This day J. W. returned from Crown 
Point having brought 1 bbh rum, 1 bbL molasses, and 
Ibbh pork from thence to Sloop island, whence it was 
brought by a sleigh and pair from C. Point which was 
obliged to insure at £50. Ayers and King had been 
for several days absent, some thought they were hunt- 
ing, others thought they ran off". 

28th Feb., this day Luckey, Hicks and Taylor, — 
but word being come up that Ayers and King were 
returned, those 3 went to them. 

1st March, 1763. This morning Ayers, King, Hicks, 
Luckey, and Taylor, came up to J. W. all armed ; and 
offering back the goods they had bought and used, 
and made a charge of 6s per. day and victuals for their 
labour, insisted on getting their notes up, for that they 
now determined to quit the settlement, and if he did 
not comply with this their ofi'er they would take their 
all with them. He then set oft' privately for Crown 
Point on March 3d. On the night of the 4th returned 
with 6 soldiers, lay all night at George Belton's, there 
he got intelligence that all were gone oft'.^ 

lit is evident from tliis resort to the military arm, that no civil 
jurisdiction had been extended to this remote settlement. All power 
seems to have been exercised by Gilliland, and his government was 
usually almost patriarchal, although we shall meet with some singu- 
lar exhibitions of arbitrary authority, which however the circumstan- 
ces probably justified. These difficulties occurred during his absence, 
by which his influence had become diminished. This J. W. I infer 
was John Watson, mentioned in the list of immigrants, who was the 
half brother of Gilliland and was dignified by him with the title of 
Steward. Mr. Sheldon states that Gilliland, while south, was ap- 
pointed a mugistrate. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 128 

5tli March. Set out from G. Belton's for Milltown, 
found G. Hicks' house locked up. At Ayers found 
all their cattle ready shod, brought all the cattle home 
and marked them W. G., leaving a guard over Ayers' 
house least Mrs. Ayers or Mrs. Hicks should run away 
with intelligence after the fellows, who were but a lit- 
tle way off.^ 

Made immediate pursuit after the fellows from Ayer's 
to Bay Perrow f we soon came up with a large chest; 
about half way from the river to the bay found the ox 
sleigh well loaded, proceeded on to within ^ mile of 
the bay, where found Mr. Ayers and George Hicks, 
returning, after sending the others off ; here discovered 
Hicks, proceeded to the bay, but could not see any of 
the others, they made quite off; then returned and 
brought all the goods home tins night. 

6th, 7th, 8th March, the soldiers being storm-staid, 
set them to clear the ice from the trough and saw mill. 

9th March, J. W. set out with the soldiers for Crown 
Point, where he was detained 4 days, during which 
time he bought from Mr. Benzol the time of David 
Phleming, and from Capt. Browii's man 2 sows in pig, 
and was then obliged to pay £5 or =£6 for mending 
soldiers' guns, which were broke by falling on the ice. 

1 This summai'y procedure in seizing and marking the cattle of these 
fugitive tenants, wasone of those arbitrary acts which the circumstan- 
ces appear to have rendered necessary. These measures were the 
acts of Watson. 

* Bay Perrow. This name, written Perue, designated on all the 
old maps a deep indentation of the western shore of the lake, which 
is now known as Willsboro bay. The original name was undoubtedly 
applied by the French, but I have not been able to trace its meaning 
or derivation. 



124 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

19tli March, J. W. set out from Crown Point for 
"Willsborongh. 

30tli March, this day river thawed, and the saw mill 
was set a going. 

12th April, the wood feed^ being good, the cattle 
betook to it, deserting their hay. 'N. B. : the hay at 
Eliz" meadow being finished, 24th March, the cattle 
were then sent to Lackey's yard, where there was 
some remaining. 

13th April, shot 3 dogs for having torn and abused 
my large sow. 

14th April, this day sent 3 hands to raise R. McAu- 
ley's house. 

15th April, sent to Crown Point for prov', and got 
4 barrels flour, and 5 firkins butter — all condemned. 
Mr Chism stayed behind; the others ref* the 19th, at 
this time the run away settlers came for their wives, 
and our red cow with white face died, ha\ang loss'd 
an old white cow the 23d March. 

21st April, 1766 : this day Thomas Brady helped G. 
Belton at his house. 

23d Apr., this day 5 of my hands helped do at do. 

26th Apr., threw out the fishing seine for the first 
time in 1766, got only 8 suckers. 

29th, J. W. and two other hands went to Crown 
Point for peas, and ret* May 2d, with 4 bbls condemned, 
and Wm. Ferris and his wife. 

May 4th, Wm. Ferris began to work at 458 per. mo. 
and found. 

1 Wood feed. This expression, which I hare nowhere seen before, 
must be equivalent to the common term browse. The juicy twigs 
and swollen buds afford a very comfortable sustenance for cattle often 
at this season. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 125 

May 8tli, sowed the first of our garden seed.^ 

10th May, AVm. Ferris quit our work, being 6| days. 

11th May, set the first of our potatoes. 

19th May, this day J. W. set out for to meet me, 
which he did at Stillwater, and finding me sick and 
unable to travel, he returned with Nehemiah Smith, 
his wife, son and daughter, Arch** McLaughlin, black- 
smith, Catharine Welsh and Betsey Williams, who 
all arrived at Willsborough, 4 June. 

10th June, J. Watson set out again for Ticonderoga, 
where he met me, and returned to Willsborough, the 
15th, with stores, &c. 

16th June, 1766, this day John McElrea, Israel Dibble 
and Martin Dudley arrived at Willsborough, the former 
commenced this day week at X18 "^ ann., and the 2 
latter this day at 45s '^ mo. 

Sunday, 22d June, about 1 o'clock this day, I Wil- 
liam Gilliland, with my wife, Mrs. Eliz* Gilliland, my 
mother Mrs. Jane Gilliland, my sister Miss Charity 
Gilliland, my brother Mr. James Gilliland,^ my daugh- 
ter Miss Eliz"- Gilliland, my niece Miss Eliz* Hamilton, 
my servant girl Rachel McFardin, and my negro man 
Ireland, all arrived at Milltown, in Willsborough, with 
2 Bateau loads of stores, having left New York with 
22 wagon loads of stores, furniture &c. on the 

28th of April last. 

1 The various entries which occur in the Journal in relation to the 
weather and operations of agriculture, manifest that little or no 
change in the seasons has taken place for the century which has 
elapsed since Gilliland's colonization. 

2 James Gilliland became an officer in the American army, and was 
distinguished for his services, particularly at the seige of Yorktown. 



126 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

29th. April, was taken ill on board the Albany sloop. 

3(1 May, arrived at Albany, where I was confined to 
my room, sometimes to my bed, until Saturday, 

10th May, then set out with the Rev'' Mr Henry of 
Quebec, and his family; they in one Bateau, we in 
t'other; they requested the company of our daughter 
Jane, and Mrs. Henry seeming very desirious for her, 
and our Batteau being small and heavy loaded, we 
consented; they were stronger man'd than we, and 
soon left us behind ; they got to Half Moon i hour 
before us, and by the unskillfulness of their hands, 
kept the wrong side of the river, (being the east side) 
and by endeavoring to get up the river, (being obliged 
to keep close to the bank) they set the Bateau under 
a tree, whose top fell into the water, the root still keep- 
ing its place on the bank, and the strength of the cur- 
rent pressing on the bow of the Bateau which was 
next to the shore, turned her almost broadside to the 
stream, by which means she was forced under the top 
of the said tree which laid in the water, instantly filled 
and sunk, all the passengers and cargo being afloat, 
went adrift, Mr. Henry, his wife, three eldest sons, his 
2d daughter, and the three Bateau men all saved them- 
selves by laying hold of the limbs and branches of the 
tree and by each other, whilst my lovely daughter and 
Mr. Henrj^'s 2 youngest sons went adrift down with 
the current; my daughter floated about half a mile, 
Mr. Henry's youngest, son floated about a mile, who 
having a scrap of back accidentally under his head, 
kept on his back above water, so great away that he 
was taken up by a Canoe's crew, who went in pursuit 
of them; but Mr. Henry's youngest son but one was 



TUE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 127 

drowned, and was taken up five miles below Albany 
12 days after. 

lltli May, tliis day my daughter was taken up at or 
close by tlie place she sank. 

12th May, removed her corpse to Coleman's, in 
Stillwater by his desire and request, who having laid 
out his family burying ground near his house, our 
daughter was decently interred there on Tuesday, 

13th May, aged 6 years wanting 12 days, and the 
wonder of her age for beauty, stature, politeness, dis- 
cretion, education, propriety of language, sweetness of 
temper, gracefulness of address, strength of genius and 
memory, and above all of charity, and every other vir- 
tue, never having shown the reverse by. either word or 
action — ever generous and benevolent. Her sudden 
death struck all her acquaintances with the most seri- 
ous affliction, was as generally lamented as was her 
acquaintance extensive. Many who had never seen her, 
who only knew her character, bewailed her death with 
tears in their eyes ; how poignant then must have been 
the loss of so lovely a child to her fond parents, as well 
as to her grand mother and other relations. But great 
is our consolation in the steadfast hopes of her having 
made a happy change, and that through Christ's Right- 
eousness and mercy, she is now gloryfying her and 
our God, our Glorious Redeemer in His ever blessed 
mansions above. 

My illness continuing, detained me at Stillwater 
with all my family for 16 days, during which time I 
was bled and blistered several times to remove a dis- 
order in my eyes, which for a considerable time de- 



1 28 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

prived me of sight, whilst Mr. John Watson and John 
McAuley arrived from Wiilshorough. 

Sent my stores by Watson to Saratoga, and being 
somewhat recovered, followed them thither with my 
family, was taken ill there again, and thereby detained 
us there 5 days, then got a wagon to carry us to Fort 
George. 

28th May, being Wednesday, staid there 5 days and 

left it Monday, 

2d June, and arrived at fort George on that day, in 

the evn'g. My illness continuing, detained us all at 

fort George for 9 days, from the 2d, to Wednesday, 

11th June, then put all my stores and embarked my- 
self and family on board of Wm Stoughton's schooner, 
and having a fair wind arrived this evening at Ticon- 
deroga landing, where being necessarily detained the 

12th, embarked the next day on board the sloop 
Musquenunge, and in a passage of If hours arrived 
at Crown Point on the evening of Friday the 

13th June, then arrived at Crown Point, here my 
disorders returning, I was confined by my room, often 
to bed, to Saturday the 

21st June, then left Crown Point and the wind be- 
ing favorable arrived the evening of this day, pretty 
late at George Belton's, where we staid all night and 
the next day being Sunday, 

22d June, proceeded on our journey, and arrived 
in Milltown, in Willsboro. Mrs. Eliz"' Gilliland my 
spouse being the first lady of our family that landed 

in Willsborough. 

N. B. Let it be remembered that Samuel Jackson, 
blacksmith, run away from Willsboro the 10th March, 
1766. Robert McLane, and George Wilson, quit my 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 129 

employ the 2cl, June, 1766, and went olf, the former 
enticed away my bound servant maid Mary Craig. 
She being great with child to him. Whilst at Crown 
Point I accidentally metwith Wm. Luckey, who I had 
taken on my warrent for debt and brought him prisoner 
to "Willsborough (Robt. McAuley, constable,) when 
after reflecting how much he was in my power he 
agreed to serve me for the amount of his debt and com- 
menced in my employ on the — June, 1766, at 45s '^ 
mo. or £25 "^ annum being — days after I arrived liere.^ 

23d June, from this time I continued in an indifler- 
ent state of health, sometimes better, sometimes worse 
to Aug. — Employed my hands, some making a fence 
round the garden, some going to Crown Point for prov', 
some enclosing a yard in front of the house, one 'tother 
side of the trough, making a bum proof &c. &c. to the 

14th July, then sent my men to the meadows to 
make hay which they accomplished agst. 

iThis singular incident exhibits tlie energy and decision whicli are 
such marked features in the character of Gilliland, and which enabled 
him to conduct so succesfully the trying scenes of his colonization. 
It is of interest, also, as it reveals the arbitrary means by which power 
was exercised in the remote settlements of the country at that early 
period. We have seen the steward invoking the military arm for pro- 
tection from the acts of insubordinate tenants, and making seizure of 
their cattle without the pretense of any civil process. No political or- 
ganization existed a hundred years ago on the banks of Lake Cham- 
plain. There is not the slightest allusion in this journal or elsewhere 
to the presence of courts or magistrates. Gilliland bore with him a 
commission as justice of the peace, on his return from the south. No 
gaol could have then existed at Willsboro. We have no evidence of 
any authority being exerted in this transaction except force, and such 
was probably in similar circumstances uniformly exercised. Yet the 
remedy used was evidently efl'ective and seems to have promoted sub- 
stantial justice. 

17 



130 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

21st Aug., having made in soiitli meadow 20 tramp 
cocks, and in Eliz* meadow 16 do. All being much 
larger and better hay than we got last year, for which 
reason we did not cut any hay in swamp meadow.^ 

Making these 36 cocks employed a man — day, — 
of which were lossed in the men's coming back and 
forward on Saturdays and Mondays, the wages amount- 
ed to <£ 

The liqr. amounted to .... . 
The sweetning amounted to ... 

The provisions amounted to . 
The things lost and broken amounted to . 



Total £ 

which makes the hay come at 25s 4Jp ^ cock. 

G. Belton, gets in South meadow, . . . 2^ 

Tramp cocks. 

Mr. McAuley, in do . . . . OJ 

do in Eliz* meadow, ... 4 

Tho. Chism, do at Belton's, . . . OJ 

do at Eliz* meadow, ... 1 

Nehemiah Smith, at South meadow, . . . 0| 

do at Eliz"^ meadow, ... 1 

Wm. Gillilaud, brought from S° meadow , . 7f 

do brought from Eliz* meadow, . 6 

do left for cattle in S" meadow, . . 8^ 

do left in Eliz'' meadow, . . . 4 

in all . , . . 36 

' This fact illustrates the careful observation of Gilliland, and his 
conclusions are justified by constant experience. Frequent cutting 
improves the quality of wild grass, and as I have before remarked, the 
hay produced from the beaver meadow is vastly superior to that found 
upon the marshes. 



THE CIIAMPLAIN VALLEY. 131 

"Wliat I brouglit home was for the supply of 6 oxen 
that plowed, &c. in the fall and spring, and for 2 milch 
cows, and 1 young calf, and 4 oxen all winter. 

What I left in the meadows is to supply 1 large bull ; 
8 oxen ; 4 yearlings ; 2 young calves, at the meadow, 
and that in the woods ; 8 milch and dry cows. Being 
in all Ibull, 12 oxen, 10 cows, 4 yearlings, and4 young 
calves, the whole of my black or horned cattle at this 
time. 

28th July, Mr. Dean arrived at Milltown from New 
York with an order of survey, and a surveyor to survey 
Grand isle. 

31st July, I embarked with Dean and Mr. Thomp- 
son, surveyor, and Mr. Geo. Rice, for Grand Isle, 
where we arrived this evening, stayed there viewing 
the land (which and the timber are found to be extra 
good) to Saturday, 

9th Aug., when we all proceeded homeward; on our 
way we stopped at the river AlamoUie^ which lies about 
east of the south end cape of Grand Isle; is a very 
large river, much larger than Otter creek ; went about 
6 miles up it, no falls or rapids appeared, continued 
smooth, deep and wide, is well stored with fish, the 
land on both sides very sandy and bad, much ordinary 
pine timber. Near the lake the land is very low, looks 
as if flooded in spring. When my men came home 
from the meadows, 

1 " River Alamollie." The Lamoille, " It is said to have been dis- 
covered by Champlain in 1609, and called by him La Mouette, the 
French for gull, a species of water fowl which are very numerous 
about the mouth of this stream. In Charlevoix maps of the discoveries 
in North America, published in 1744, it is called la riviei-e a la Mouelle, 
probably a mistake of the engraver in not crossing the ts. Thus by 



132 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

21st Aug., set them about clearing the whole of 
Camp island, fencing it, &c. 

30th Aug., Embarked with Mr. Dean, Mr. Watson, 
and Mr. Rice, and Mr. Thompson for Crown Point, in 
order to give Mr. Dean, and Mr. Rice, a convoy with 
my Bateau and to meet Gov. Sir Henry Moore, who 
is expected about noon at CroAvn Point ; arrived at 
Crown Point this evening, proceeded 

31st Aug., with them for Ticonderoga ; there they 
could not get a boat to cross Lake George, therefore I 
consented to give them a convoy to Ft. George, we ar- 
rived the 

2d September, there I met with the following Genf 
Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, General 
Carlton, ^ Governor of Quebec province and Brig'' Gen^ 
of the district, Philip Schyler Esq.,^Robert HarperEsq., 
Charles Fredenburg, formerly a Captain, — Carlton 
Esq., nephew to General Carlton, Mr. John McKesson 
Atty; the four first gent" undertook this journey in 
order to fix the bounds betwixt the two provinces of 
New York and Quebec, by discovering the true lati- 
tude of 45** north, on which Mr. Harper acted as As- 
tronomer. Gov"^ Moore immediately gave me an invi- 
tation to become one at his table, which I accepted, 
he and Gov"" Carlton accepted my invitation to take 
their passage in my Bateaux across the lakes, and we 
all arrived safe at Crown Point on Saturday, 6th Sep., 

the mere carelessness of a French Artist are we indebted for the 
smooth, melodious sounding name of La Moille." — Thompson s Vt. 
Gilliland should have reversed his estimate of the comparative magni- 
tude of these streams. 

I Sir Guy Carlton, and subsequently Lord Dorchester. 

* General Schuyler of the Revolution. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 133 

1766, on which day I forewarned Cha' Fredenbnrgh 
Esq. agauist trespassing on my lands opposite Isle 
Valcour, in the presence of both Gov" Mr. Schyler, 
Mr. Carlton and Mr. Harper.^ 

7th Sep., took an observation by the Sun at Crown 
Point, (which was afterwards corroborated by a noc- 
turnal observation) and found it to be Lat^ 44° 1' 20" ; 
after dinner embarked for home in my Bateau ; the 
Governors and other gentlemen embarking before din- 
ner, in the sloop. Overtook them at Button Mould 
Bay and went aboard the sloop, where dinner being 
just served up, I dined with them; there being littie 
or no wind, tarried with them 4 or 5 hours, and then 
pushed off in my boat for home, where I arrived about 
one in the morning, found all well. 

9th Sept., mustered up all my men and set out, all 
being armed for my lower tract opposite Isle Valcour, 
in order to build a possession house, at the River St. 
Aranack, (or Cragan river) and to oppose Mr. Fred- 
enburgh, should he attempt to make encroachments 
there ;^ arrived there this evening. 

10th Sejjt., this morning set four hands about build- 

1 Fredenburgh occupied at an early day, the site of the present vil- 
lage of Plattsburgh, and his patent embraced the adjacent territory. 
A water power on the Saranac still bears the name of Fredenburgh 
Falls. {See a previous note.) 

2 These proceedings, almost in the presence of the Governor of the 
Province, again manifests the absence of all legal authority upon the 
shores of Champlain, and the prevalence of force in the assertion of 
personal rights. The course of Gilliland seems to have been success- 
ful, for the location of the patent to Fredenburgh, granted in 1769, 
passed along the west lines of Stewart &. Friswell's patents and 
terminated at the foot of Cumberland Head possessions claimed by 
Gilliland. 



134 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

ing the house whilst m3^self with the others, proceeded 
to the Congress, for settling the Lat'' at Wind Mill 
Point, having brought 3 shoats, some salmon and a 
fat calf for the Governors, who thankfully received 
them, being almost out of fresh provisions ; arrived at 
the Congress this evening pretty late,^ 

12th Sep., went to Kiver La.Cole, and settled with 
Eliakim Ayres, George Hicks, John King, Moses 
Dixon and Martin Taylor, who acknowledge their ac- 
count, by me exhibited in the presence of their over- 
seer, Mr. Alvis.^ 

13th Sep., finding the weather continue rainy and 
cloudy and that there was no liklihood of the latitude 
being soon determined, and Mrs. Gilliland being past 
her reckoning, took my leave of the Governor, who 
promised me his friendship, and that he would visit 
us on his return, and pushed off for Cragan river 
where arrived late this night, raised all the men to 
hang a door on the house, and fasten, which they did, 
and thereby finished it. 

14th Sep., this morning set out for Willsborough, 
where arrived in the afternoon, having brought home 
a birch canoe which we found on Cumberland Head; 
found all well. 

18th Sep., brought a cock of hay from south meadow, 
sj* the first this season ; this day G. Belton moved to his 
"^ house at Cloven Rock. 

1 The above incident manifests Gilliland's acquaintance with the 
amenities of refined society, as well as the liberality of his character. 
He uses the term "Congress," in its European acceptation before it 
had become memorable in its American use. 

2 These men were the fugitive tenants whose violent proceedings 
we have already noticed. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 135 

20th Sep., this day Sr. Henry Moore, Col. Reicl, 
Philip Schyler, Robert Harper and Adolphns Benzel 
Esq's, called and drank tea &c.!\vith ns on their re- 
turn from Astronomer's Island, having completed their 
observation to satisfaction, and fixed the line about 3 
miles to the northward of Wind Mill Point.^ This 
day George Belton so\^ed his first wheat. 

21st Sep., Jane Willsborough Gilliland, was born 
this evening between 8 and 9 o'clock; her mother 
having been about 3 hours ill. Capt. Wharton being 
then here. (Died at Stillwater, Thursday evening, 4th 
of Jan. 1798, at ^ after viii o'clock, ^ 31yrs, 3mo. 
and 14ds. Interpolated by another hand.) 

3d and 4th October, these 2 days sowed and har- 
rowed our wheat. 

17th Oct., Mess. McAuley sowetl their wheat. 

'This event is recorded in the Colonial History. Governor Moore, 
in a report to tlie board of plantations, Nov. '66 states : "We fixed 
the boundary about 2J miles below Wind Mill Point, which is further 
to the northward than we imagined to find it, from the observations 
said to have been made there by the French some years ago." This 
line was undisturbed until its error was ascertained by the mutual 
commission which established the boundary between the British and 
American possessions under the treaty of Ghent, when the accuracy 
of the French survey was determined. The original line, as laid in 
1766, was restored by the Webster and Ashburton Treaty. These facts 
illustrate the superiority in talent, skill and science, which marked 
the action and policy of the French officials in every department upon 
this continent. It is exemplified throughout our Colonial History. 
My father brought from Europe a Chart of Lake Champlain, published 
in 1784, and based upon the French surveys, which embraced the 
soundings of every portion of the lake, and exhibited the most minute 
rocks and reefs that imperil navigation, with perfect accuracy. I 
think that our topographical bureaux now include nothing of the 
kind. 



136 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

2l8t Oct., paid off Jabez Rucld and discharged him. 

23d Oct., Nehemiah Smith sowed his wheat. 

28th Oct., this day N. Smith put up his logs and "W. 
McAuley arrived. 

15th Oct., George Belton sowed his last wheat.^ 

7th Nov., paid off Isaac Williams and John Smith, 
who went away. 

11th Nov., John Smith returned to my employ, and 
to continue at 45s "^ mo., to 1st April next, then to 
take a farm. 

18th Nov., the navigation of our river from the 
spring well to Chism's, was this day stop'd by ice. 

22d Nov., this day paid oft' Fran' Galland, who this 
day went away. 

26th Nov., John McAuley with some hands, went 
to Canada for wheat ; this day we had the first snow 
storm, an inch deep. 

28th Nov., Snow all gone. 

30th Nov., snowed all day, with some rain, this open- 
ed the river. 

1st Dec, Froze hard, the river froze again. 

2d Dec, The saw mill stopped as was the turning 
mill some days ago, good walking on the ice to the 
mouth of the river. 

3d Dec, Snow, sent men to collect our cattle and 

iThe culture of wheat was a prominent feature in the Agriculture 
of Northern New York for many years after its occupation. When 
roads had been opened subsequent to the Revolution, vast quantities 
were transported to Southern markets by sleighs. The changes in the 
soil, and the prevalence of destructive insects, at length entirely ar- 
rested this culture. Winter wheat has not been restored to our hus- 
bandry, although spring wheat is now successfully cultivated. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 137 

take them to the meadows. Surveyed the river from 
the landing to the lake, being assisted by James 
Thompson. 

9th Dec, The snow 3 inches deep. 

10th Dee., do 4 inches deep. 

11th, to 18th, warm pleasant weather, sent our cattle 
to the meadows the 17th, inst. 

19th Dec, very cold. 

22d Dec, Thomas Bready went to the meadows and 
to'^k with him 40 days store of prov', and 1 pot, 3 
quarts, 3 bottles, 1 trap and chain, 1 bag, 1 tub. 

30th Dec, Our raft of hay was drove on shore last 
night on the south side of my Bro" point — 2 cocks from 
Far meadow, went with some hands and got the hay 
all safe on shore, and one Bateau haul'd up, wrought 
till 9 in the evening, then came to McAuley's. 

31st Dec, went with more hands and hauled up the 
other Bateau, sent Ireland and David to the Far meadow 
for a yoke of oxen for McAuley, they are also to assist 
Thomas Bready to skin my large white ox with one 
drooping horn, which was drowned at the far meadow 
creek a few days ago. 

'N. B. We killed my brindle stag with white face 
and sharp horns the 10th ]!^ovember, he weighed about 
900 and produced 6 stone of tallow. 

WillsborT), January, 1st 1767. This day we had a 
shooting match at John Chism's. I won 2 matches, 
AIx. James Thompson won 1, and John McEh-ea, won 
1 match, 

1st, 2d, 3d, very cold weather, this evening Ireland 
\nd David, came home from the south meadow, were 
b^th frost bit. 

18 



138 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

4th to 12th, warm good weather, built part of our 
clay chimney in the new kitchen. 

13th, and 14th, soft weather, with a good deal of 
rain, the river open to foot of the rapids. Killed the calf 
of the swelled headed cow. Being about 6 weeks old, 
it weighed SSibs of good veal, which at 6d ^ lb with 
the tallow of fall and skin came to <£3. 

15th, to 20th, very good working weather and good 
sleighing, the snow about 6 inches deep, can bring a 
load of hay every day from Eliz"' meadow, with 4 oxen 
In the team, this day broke our sleigh in attempting to 
haul logs with it and set about making a flat log sleigh 
of the Canadian form. 

21st, clear weather, very cold. 

22d, do. but not so cold, this day the lake froze half 
across, on the east side it appears open. 

23d, cold weather. 

24th, clear and very pleasant. 

25th, a strong north wind opened the lake, broke 
the ice in bitts. 

26th, clear warm weather, began to haul logs for 
sawing. 

27th 28th, 29th. do. 

30th, a snowy day, this night the snow 12 inches deep. 

31st, close warm weather, this day some of our set- 
tlers went to see James Logan, whether alive or detid, 
they crossed the lake in a small birch canoe.' 

1 Logan was associated with another German named Pettier, and the 
first settler of Shelburn, Vt., lying opposite Willsboro. Two points 
jutting into the lake from the eastern shore perpetuate their respective 
names. A small colony, engaged in the lumber trade with Canada, 
had gathered about them previous to the revolution. Mr. Thompson 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 139 

1st Februaiy, 1767, warm weather. 

2d, clear pleasant weather, this clay I went to the 
near meadow in order to tind its true bearing and dis- 
tance from the barn, made various courses from the 
meadow to the barn, keeping on the top of the high 
bank next the river from the time we got to it 'till op- 
posite the new garden, then came into the road leading 
from hence to the lake at a beech tree marked M, and 
then took the bearing and distance from thence to the 
barn along the road north 35 W. 10 chains, N. 49 west 
5 cli. then oS". 34 W. 7 chains to the S. W. corner of 
the barn, protracted my work and reduced all the dif- 
ferent courses made from the meadow to the above 
mentioned beech tree marked (M) to the following 2 
courses, viz. : beginning at the said tree and running 
thence. 

3d, clear good weather. 
^1 4th, at 3 this afternoon began cold weather, a strong 
K. wind, put up our coal kiln. 

5th, colder than yesterday, and sharp small snow, 
lake all frozen.^ 

says, "there is a tradition that Logan and Pettier, were murdered by 
soldiers (sent from Montreal to protect them against the Indians) to 
secure the proceeds of a raft, which had been sold by the Germans in 
Canada." 

1 Lake Champlain is the largest body of water within our national 
tei'ritory, which is periodically closed by ice, and so firmly as to form 
a highway for travel and business. The ice not unfrequently attains 
a thickness from two to three feet and usually continues passable from 
about 1st February to the 1st of April. The formation of the ice pre- 
sents singular and beautiful phenomena. One would conjecture that it 
augments by the accumulation of horizontal laminse or layers. But the 
process is far different. The ice is constituted by an infinitude of hex- 
agonal crystals or tubes, wLich form a perpendicular and parallel 



140 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

6th, very cold nay colder than yesterday, but clear. 

7th, snowey day, not so cold as the preceding; this 
evening we compute the snow to be 15 inches deep on 
a level. 

8th, 9th, close warm weather, covered our coal kill ; 
this day we had a very thick small soft snow which 
continued all day. 

10th, snow continued until 4 in the afternoon, then 
stop'd, we now compute the snow to be 20 inches deep 
on a level. 

arrangement, similar to the formation of a honeycomb. These crystals 
unite with perfect exactness forming the mass, and are perfectly indis- 
tinguishable, whilst the cold produces a compact cohesion of the parti- 
cles, but when the ice is dissolving in the spring, they become separated 
and are clearly perceptible. Manipulation can then disintegrate them 
as readily as if they had been formed by the hand of art, and arranged 
in their formation. These crystals extend from the surface of the wa- 
ter to the atmosphere and elongate, maintaining their exact propor- 
tions, as the ice thickens. It is difficult for philosophy to explain this 
process of nature. My own impression is that the vapor which arises 
from the water is conveyed by capillary attraction or other subtle 
agencies through minute pores in the ice to the cold air, and their 
congealing regularly extends these crystals in their vertical growth. 
When the ice has attained adequate thickness its transit is perfectly 
safe except in crossing the cracks or fissures which form in it. These 
fissures, which entirely rend asunder the ice, usually extend from one 
headland to another, and often intersect. Their formation is attended 
by a noise and concussion like the reverberation of thunder or the pro- 
longed discharge of the heaviest artillery. The pent up air beneath 
the ice thus finds ventilation instead of escaping through treacherous 
air holes. Until the era of rail roads it was a common occurrence for 
loaded teams to traverse the lake between its extremities, a distance 
of one hundred and twenty miles. This icy plain often exhibits 
scenes of animated excitement, when long trains of ladened vehicles 
glide rapidly over it, while the pleasure-sleigh bounds along its smooth 
and crystal field, breaking the stillness by the music of the merry 
bells and joyous merriment. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 141 

11th, a pleasant day, laid the hearth in onr room, 
this day G. Belton's man came on the ice from home 
to Chism's Point, good walking. 

12th, delightful weather, the sun warm. 

13th, 14th, do do 

15th, warm, dull weather. 

16th, got our ha}' and the Bateaux brought by oxen 
across Eliz* Bay to Eliz* Point and hailed up on the 
bank, went with P. McAuley, to Willson and Good) 
rich's house in Burton to take an acct. of their effects 
in tha liandsof their manager Wni. Hulme, which we 
did, they having broke up their settlement and dis- 
charged their said Steward. We took 2 sleighs loaded 
with the most valuable goods to the Messrs. McAuley 's 
house, the sleighs being drawn by Hulme's men^ 

16th, This day began a survey of the edge of the lake 
from the eastern extremity of the sandybeach on Pine 
point to the Cloven Rock, beginning at said extreme 
point,^ thence 

Courses, C. L. 

No. 1, S. 73° W., 2, 98, 

2, S. 69° W., 3, 22, 

3, S. 60° 30' W., 4, 00, 

1 Willson and Goodricb, occupied in 17G6, a tract north of tho 
Boquet, of 2000 acres patented to James Ross. They established an 
agency at Flat Rock Bay, which they called Burton, but abandoned 
it the next February. — 0. F. Sheldon. 

2 1 have thought it expedient to preserve a record of these surveys 
upon the ice, on account of the originality of the idea of making such 
surveys, and from the interest which attaches to it from the data the 
courses afford for determining any changes in the conformation of 
the shore which may have occurred during the last century, or which 
may hereafter be produced. 



142 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Courses C. L. 

1^0. 4, S. 52° 30' W., 4, 00, hereChism's mark- 
ed pitch pine bears N". 11° 40' W, distance from 
the edge of the water, Ic. 40l. 

5, S. 45° W., 5, 18. 

6, S. 24° W., 2, 80. 

7, S. 4° 40' E., 1, 23, to the mouth of 
White creek which is in Chism's lot. 

8, S. 6° 40' E., 5, 76. 

9, S. 7° 50' W., 6, 00. 

10, S. 2° 0' E., 16, 00, here the soulh end 
of N. Smith's house bears N. 49 W., his mark- 
ed tree ou the shore, on his S" line bears S. 63*^ 
W. 

11, S. 6° E., 4, 00, here we took an 
offset of 50 links east in order to get ou the 
ice which afforded best marching. 

12, S. 2° E., 18, 00. 

13, S. 17° E., 11, 8, to a dry elm tree 
standing ou the shore from which the south 
end of McAuley's house bears i^. 48 "W., here 
ended our survey for this day and, 

17th, began where we ended yesterday, and 
proceeded thence along the lake. 

14, S. 18° 30' E., 7, 00, here took an offset 
of 70 links east to get on the ice. 



15, S. 


11° 


E., 


11, 54. 


16, S. 


48° 


E., 


12, 10. 


17, S. 


21° 15' 


E., 


6, 00. 


18, S. 


5° 


E., 


1, 15. 


19, S. 


39° 


E., 


11, 65. 


20, S. 


4° 30' 


E., 


10, 75. 


21, S. 


6° 


W. 


, 11, 00. 



THE CHAMPLAIN YALLEY. 143 

Courses. C. L. 

No. 22, S. 4° 40' E., 10, 45. 

23, S. 4° W., 17,80. 

24, S. 2° 30' E., 13, 30. 

25, S. 15° W., 27, 00. 

26, S. 48° W., 3, 47. 

27, South, 2, 69. 

28, S. 33° E., 1, 90, to Elisabetli sandy 
point. 

29, S. 40° W., 1, 40. 

30, S. 62° W., 10, 00. 

31, S. 40° "W., 9, 80. 

32, S. 50° W., 3, 73, to Ballynanghy 
creek, 

83, S. 35° 30' E„ 14, 70, across the bay at 
the south side of Eliz'' point to the east end of 
Zimmy's point, 6 chs. took an offset west to the 
shore 3 chs. thence to the point circular. 

34, S. 17° 30' E., 3, 50. 

85, S. 46° W., 8, 26. 

36, S. 18° W., 3, 90. 

37, S. 44° 30' E., 14, 6, at 3 chs. offset to 
the shore Ic. 15l. 

88, S. 40° W., 5, 80, at 5 chs offset to the 
shore Ic. Ol. 

39, S. 20° 30' W., 11, 25, at 7 chs. offset to the 
shore Ic. 20l. at 14 chs. came to point at end 
of this course. 

40, S. 30° W., 22, 27, at 3 chs. offset to the 
Cows leap, 1 ch. being a corner at 17 chains, 
offset 1 ch. 

41, South, 6, 25. 



144 PIONEER HISTORY OP 

Courses. C. L. 

No. 42, S. 22° 30' W., 6, 45. 

43, S. 6° E., 6, 53. 

44, S, 5° W., 12, 87. 

45, S, 5° W., 8, 97. 

46, S. 21° E., 10, 90. 

47, S. 35° E., 12, 63. 

48, S. 65° W., 3. 

49, S. 11° E., 4. 

50, S. 6° W., 4. 

51, S. 25° 30' W., 11, 51. 

52, S. 17° 30' W., 33. 

53, S. 27° W., 9, 48. 

54, S. 2° 30' W., 16. 

55, S. 29° W., 14, at 11 chs. to 14 chs. 
50 Iks. to the shore. 

56, S. 24° E., 9, 24, at 2 chs. to 6i, 50 
Iks. to do here the creek at G. Beltoii's. 

57,8.49° E., 13,75, at 4 chs. the east cor- 
ner of Belton's house bears S. 24 W. 

58, S. 38° 30' E., 10. 

59, S. 51° E., 7, 37, to the line tree be- 
tween mine and Dr. Judd's lots, being marked 
H. W. and standing on the shore. 

60, N. 87° E., 78,64, to the Cloven Eock 
to the N. E. side thereof, at 18 chs. on this 
course, took an offset to the shore of 7 chs. 
South to the rock marked A, and the bay cir- 
cular almost to the Cloven Rock. 

18th Feb., this morning observed the bearing of Lo- 
gan's pointfrom G. Belton's and found it to be N. 38° 
E. — then R. McAuleys, W. McAulejs, and G. Belton 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 145 

went with me on a straight line, over the ice to Logan's ; 
at the west end of Logan's point took an observation 
of the bearing of McAuley's house which found to be 
S. 75° W. on which course chained across and found 
the distance to be 355| chains, from McAuley's door 
to the end of Pine Sandy point, or rather the east end 
of the easternmost log lying on S** point, and found it 
to be N. 11° E. Distance, on that line (which we chain- 
ed) 71 chains. 

18th, this day our people were girdling trees on 
Camp Island. 

19th, this day I came home ; the weather has been 
rather sharp these 3 days, this however was the warm- 
est, though a strong wind, but it was southerly. 

The 17th, inst. I bought a large sow from Mr. Hulme 
for 26s. She took my large boar the 30th Jan. 

20th, a warm south wind produces a great thaw (to- 
gether with a little rain) the snow was reduced to about 
a foot or less. 

21st, last night it began to freeze, and this day it 
froze very hard, with a cold north wind ; yesterday we 
broke the tongue of our log sleigh, and this day pro- 
cured another one which is this evening almost made. 
Find our coal kiln not | burnt, owing we suppose to 
the want of sod in covering it, the sods we put on being 
only lumps of sandy loam frozen, which when thawed 
run down between the billets of wood and choked the 
kiln. 

22d, moderate weather. 

23d, Ditto, from this day to 1st March, were employ- 
ed in cutting fencing stuff, and white oak, black birch, 
19 



146 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

elm, beech, maple, and ash, for sawing, being the best 
season for cutting timber for last. 

24th, set out for Great Sandy Point in order to sur- 
vey from thence to the north end of John Friswell's 
patent ; arrived at the the south end of high sandy cliffs 
at dark where we encamped and had a cold uncomfort- 
able night's lodging on the snow, fire wood being scarce 
there.' 

25th, a warm pleasant day, proceeded to the south 
branch of Au Sable river, at the south side whereof be- 
gan to survey northerly along Lake Champlain. 

Courses. C. L. 

No. 1, K 10° 30' E., 12, the mouth of the 

river 6 chs. broad course from the lake N. 77° 
W. for about I mile, 

2, K 41° E., 42, 

3, K 46° 30' E., 19, to the east end of a 
long sandy point on the S. side of the W. branch 
of R. Au Sable, the whole of this dis. being 
sand, from the end of this course or branch 
bears N. 80 west, about 30 chs. then it's about 
N. W. 

4, N. 23° W., 4, to the north shore 
of the north branch, whose entrance is only 
about ^ chain wide being choked by a sand 
bank projecting from the S" shore, from the 
end of this course and the long sandy point 
being the north side of that branch mouth 
bears N. 38° E. distance 9 chains. 

' This point is Au Sable point, at the mouth of Au Sable river, which, 
with the cliff, he has noticed in a previous description, 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 147 

WlLLSBOROUGH, FeB., 1767. 
C. L. 

No. 5, N". 9° 30' W., 6. 

6, K 6° E., 9. 

7, N". 35° E., 7, to tlie east of Great 
Sandy Point. 

8, K 88° W., 20. 

9, K. 65° 30' W., 20. 

10, K 61° W., 13, to the N. side of the 
entrance of Duck Creek, at 5ch. in the S. side 
thereof. 

11, N. 9° W., 7. 

12, K 42° W., 10. 

13, N. 17° 30' W., 10. 

14, N. 34° W., 9. 

15, K 16° W., 13, 10, at 4c IOl in the north 
side of Beaver River which is Ic broad, the 
large black oak tree, marked A on the east 
side (by Palmer) bears W. from the end of 
this course dis't 2 chains, it stands on the ridge 
or bank of the lake. 

16, K 16° W., 3, 90. 

17, N. 20° E., 6. 

18, N. 7° E., 25. 

19, K 3° 30' E., 8. 

20, N. 3° W., 12. 

21, N. 4° E., 6. 

22, K 20° E., 26. 

23, N. 7° E., 19. 

24, K 14° E., 14. 

25, N. 23° W., 6, 40. At 2 chains came to 
Peter Stewart's S. E. corner, where stands a 



148 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

large white cedar tree marked f from which 
the south end of Valcour bears N. 81° 30' E., 
and the north end of same bears IN". 20° E. the 
south end of a small island, bears S. 82° E., 
the south end of G. Isle, bears S. 85° E. 

Course. Distance. 

Kg. 26, K 12° 30' E., 8, 90. 

27, N. 47° W., 7, a round bay here, 2| 
chains shore, at4|ch, l|ch; offset, to y° shore. 

28, K 18° 30' E., 4. 

29, K 47° 30' E., 17, to a point. 

30, K 27° 30' E., 2, to do. along the shore. 

31, K 2° "W., 24, to do., near theK end 
of this course, a bite Ich offset. 

32, K 20° W., 6. 

33, N. 1° E., 4. 

34, K 5° W., 4. 

35, K 34° W., 10, from 4 to 10, a cove 
IJch deep. 

• 36, K 46° 40' W., 2. 

37, N. 68° W., 11, here is a bay fch. offset. 

38, K 17° W., 12. 

39, S. 83° 30' W., 2. 

40, N. 20° W., 13, at 6ch. a smart stream, 
at 7ch. a point. 

41, N. 2° W., 13. 

42, K 6° E., 8. 

43, N. 49° E., 101 to a stoney point at 
the north side of the River Salmon, opposite 
to 7ch stands the house, (the possession here 
formerly mentioned), at 8 the river, at 10 the 
channel or entrance thereof N B. : from this 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 149 

house the S. "W. end Valconr bears S. 33° east, 
the north end of do. K 73° E. 
25th Feb., a close, dark, warm day; in the fore- 
noon windy, in the afternoon some rain; it thawed 
fast ; proceeded on the survey northerly. 

Course. Distance. 

No. 44, K 46° 30' E., 9. 
45, N. 12° E., 5. 



46, N. 6° 


30' 


W., 


7. 


47, N. 3° 




E., 


o 


48, K 48° 


30' 


K, 


2. 


49, K 2° 




E., 


1, 


50, I^. 60° 




W., 


5, 


deep. 








51, K 17° 




E., 


5. 


52, N. 40° 


30' 


E., 


4. 


53, K 62° 


30' 


'E., 


T, 


^ch. deep. 






54, K 78° 




E., 


15. 


55, K 46° 




E., 


10. 


56, N. 24° 




E., 


6. 


57, K 11° 




E., 


11. 


58, K 52° 




E., 


11. 


59, N. 34° 




K, 


8. 


60, IST. 25° 




E., 


10. 


61, N. 3° 




E., 


2. 


62, N. 12° 




W., 


3. 


63, N. 34° 




W., 


3. 


64, K 46° 


30' 


'W., 


5. 


65, N. 68° 




W., 


1. 


66, N. 40° 




W., 


1. 


67, N. 15° 




W., 


1. 



50. 



here is a bay, l|ch. 



in this course is a bay 



150 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Course. Distance. 

No. 68, N. 4° E., 5, by the fluctuation of the 
needle, I judge there is iron ore near. 



69, K 16° 


E., 


5. 


70, K 2° 


E.. 


3. 


71, K. 21° 


W., 


2. 


72, N. 19° 


W., 


5. 


73, N". 3° 


W., 


2. 


74, N. 28° 


E., 


2, 90, 


75, K 6° 


E., 


11, 35, 



the next course to this 
is N. 83° "W"., but the ice being covered with 
water we proceeded no further; supposed the 
dis* on this course to be about 8ch. to S. end 
of the bay. The 1st considerable point from 
the end of course, K 75° bears K 8° W. ; the 
2d point bears north, the 3d point K. 2° E. 
being the point this side of FredenboUrgh, I 
think the S. east end of Cumberland Head 
bears K 52° 30' E., the K W. end Island St. 
Michael bears N. 58° E., south end of Island 
St. Michael N. 77° E., south end of Grand Isle 
S. 55° E. 
Returned this night to Hulme's, where I stayed all 
night. 

27th Feb., I came home this morning, this day my 
^eiO heifer calved, moderate warm weather, thaws fast. 
28th, the cattle were all brought home, having fin- 
ished the hay in the far meadows. 

Memorandum, that in December last, Mr. James 
Thompson deputy surveyor, and I performed a survey 
of part of the River Boquet, beginning at the head of 
Milltown Falls, 32 links distant from the edge of the 
river. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 151 

Course. Distance. 

No, 1, N. 23° W., 4, ch. from here the edge of o^i 
the river 94 links distant. 

2, K. 35° 50' W., 5, 93, to the rock behind the 
forge, from the little house, the edge of the R. 
up the falls, bears S. 26° 20' E. 

3, K 12° 30' E., 3. 

4, to the west side of 

4. 

2. 
7. 
6. 

5, 50, at |ch. offset, H'h. to 
the bank, and continued to 3ch., then close to 
the bank to the end of Camp Island. 

10, S. 42° 30' W., 4, to the south bank of 
the river. 

11, S. 83° E., 2, 60. 

12, S. 40° 20' E., 5, 70. 

13, N. 82° E., 2, 25, here the button wood 
tree bore iN". 8° 10' E., then began in the mid- 
dle of the river, 90 links W. of s** button wood 
tree on the north shore, and 80 links from the 
south shore. 

14, :N'. 85° 30' E., 12, at 5ch. breadth of the 
river, 3ch. being at our best spring, at 8ch. K. 
Ich. 85 links. 



4, 


,K 


29° 


30' 


W., 




Camp 


Island. 


5, 


N. 


21° 




E., 


6, 


K. 


70° 


40' 


E., 


7, 


IsT. 


82° 




E., 


8, 


S. 


51° 


30' 


E., 


9, 


S. 


47° 


30' 


E., 



15, S, 


4° 30' E., 


1- 




16, S. 


70° E., 


5- 




17, S. 


46° 30' E., 


5- 




18, S. 


26° 30' E., 


12, 


the first 7chs. near the 



152 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

bank, the last 5cli. 50 links from the hank, at 
11° 50' a little sandy point at 5ch., the river 
3ch. 40 links. 

19, S. 44° E., 9, here the south hank 
1 ch. dist. at 3 chs. the hank 10 links off, at 5 
chs. the bank 40 links off. 

20, S. 26° 70' E., 10, at 4chs. the hank 5l 
off, at 6 chs. the S" end of half way island 90 
links off and the south bank 20 links, here 
stood across the Island, its breadth 2 chs. | ch. 
from this line to the bank of the Island. 

21, S. 39° E., 9, atTchs. 60 Iks. stood 
across the river K 60 E. the N. E. end of the 
Island at Ich. the north bank of the river at 4 
chs. 20 links. 

22, S. 24° E., 11, at 2 chs. the bank dis- 
tant 10 links, at 5 chs. the same dist. at 7 chs. 
the hank 20 links, here took the breadth of the 
R. K 6Q E. 4c. 20l. 

23, 8. 32° E., 13, 88, to John Chism', N. 
"W. corner tree. 

do S. 32° E., 17, 60, here came to the 
bank, and here took the breadth of the river 
K 41, E. 5c. 75l. 

24, S. 75° 30' E., 18, at 3chs. 30 links from 
the bank : at 13 chs. 10 links from the bank ; 
at 17 chs. 20 links from the bank ; at 18 chs. 
took the breadth of the river N. 33 E., 4 chs. 
6 links. 

25, S. 57° 25' E., 11, here kept 20 links 
from the bank at 8J chs., chained along the 



THE CnAMPLAlN VALLEY. lOo 

shore, and here we took the breadth of the 
river N. 11° E., 5 chs. 75 Iks. 

26, S. 79° 20' E., 4, at 3 chs. a pitch pine 
tree at the E. end of Chism's house, bears S. 9 
W. 90 links from the waters edge. 

27, ¥. 63° 30' E., 1, 20, to the bottom of the 
little bay near Chism's, 

28, 1^. 47° 30' W., 1. 
29,K14° E., 1. 

30, K 81° 30' E., 2,40, L. 

31, S. 45° F., 9. 

32, S. 36° E., 9, to the end of Pine 
point or Chism's point. 

March, 1st, soft thawing weather. 

2d, do. killed 2 sows, this afternoon Wm. Bogert of 
Albany left 7 hhds. of rum with me not being able to 
proceed down the lake, the ice being bad. 

3d, a snow stornijthaw continues; wrote by Mr. Mc- 
Kay, to Thos. Shipboy, Isaac Mann, Mr. Todd, wheel- 
wright, &c. 

4th, frosty morning, sent to the meadows for hay, 
Mr. Dean, arrived here and agreed to become a settler 
on the lot of land I formerly granted to "Wm. Luckey, 
to Avhicli Luckey has consented and I have agreed. 

5th, drew our coal kill, the weather warm and clear. 

6th, Ditto. 

7th, executed leases for Mr. Dean, and let him and 
Luckey have sundrys for their settlement on their farm, 
the snow almost oft' the ground, especially where it has 
been cleared, the sun having much power, our wheat 
appears well, only the tops of the blades are Avithcred. 

8th, went on the river ice to the lake, slopy walking 
20 



154 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

the sun thawing fast, went to McAuley's and stayed 
all night. 

9th, all hands went to make a yard for our hay, on 
my own lot on Eliz" point, where we determined to 
bring all the hay remaining atEliz* meadow, and there 
to feed our dry cattle, here I have agi'eed with Thos. 
Burke to clear twenty acres of land for, 

10th, engaged George Reynold for — month at £16 
'^ ann. and John Davi for — months at <£10 "^ ann. 
This was a pleasant warm day, sent over cattle to Eliz* 
point; yesterday during our absence George Hick's 
cow having gone into the ox stable was killed by one 
of the oxen. 

11th, a bitter cold day, freezes hard. 

March, 11th, this day I made a survey of the south 
shore of Encamping island, beginning at the north east 
corner thereof. 

Ko. 1, S. 46° W., 1, 80, to a small gut be- 
tween Corp island and a small island. 

2, K 5° W., 7, 50, at 4, 50 a gully on 

Camp island. 

3, N. 31° W., 2, 40, to another gully, at 

40l. the E. end of a small island. 

4, N. 71° W., 1, 40. 

5, S. 71° W., 7, to S. W. end of the 

Island, at 6 chs. the mouth of the creek 2c. 20l. 
S" to the Tail run. 
Having a curiosity to know the quantity of land cul- 
tivated and now in fence on the Island, began at the 

S. W. post of the gate, there. 
i^o. 1, K 9^ W., 2. 

2, N. 1^ E., 1, 45. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 155 

3, K 53° 30' E., 1, 23. 

Ko. 4, S. 71° E., 1. 

5, N. 70° E., 1, 70, the E. end of small 
Island bears K 38° E. W. end N. 42 W. 

6, K 84° E., 3, 70. 

7, S. 58° 30' E., 4, here the R. Ic. 50l. 
broad. 

8, S. 33° E., 1, 90. 

9, S. 45° 30' E., 1, 60, here the R. 2c. 50l. 
wide. 

10, S. 70° 30' K, 2. 

11, S. 47 W., 1, 90, here the creek Ic. 
50l. broad. 

12, K 76 W., 1, 70. 

13, K 38 W., 1, 80, to a gully, here the 
creek 2c. 50l. broad. 

14, K 50 W., 1, 70, here the creek 4 
chains, across the small Island. 

15, S. 72 W., 4, here do 3 chs. 

16, S. 83 W., 2, 45, to the place of be- 
ginning.^ 

March, 12, a very cold day, as cold as at ISTew year's 
day. Messrs. McCracken, Rice, and Price, this day 
arrived from Montreal, on their journey for New York. 

13th, almost as cold as j'esterday and small snow, 
conveyed the above gen" to Eliz" point, where I have 
two men clearing land. 

' Instead of regarding these minute surveys by Gilliland as frivolous 
occupations, I take pleasure in recording them, as furnishing evidence 
of active and industrious habits, and the careful research and observa- 
tion of his mind. He thus relieved the tedium of an unoccupied sea- 
son, improved his practical skill as a surveyor, and made himself fa- 
miliar with his possessions. 



156 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

14th, very cold clear weather. This day Mr. John 

McAuley acted as Vendue master in the sale of the 

carcass, hide and tallow of George Ilicks' cow which 
was accidently killed by an ox in the ox stall a few 
days ago, the sale was as follows, viz.: 

John Chism, 1 fore quarter of beef, X 5 

I^ehemah Smith, 1 hind quarter at 12 3 

and 1 fore quarter at 5 3 
William Gilliland Esq. 1 hind quarter 

sold at 10 3 

and 1 cow and 1 calf skin at 7 3 

1 head and tallow at 2 3 



£2 2 3 



Vendue Master charges viz.: adver- 
tize the day of sale the three most publick 
places in Willsborough, & 5 

Commission on sale at 5 '^ cent, 2 



£71 



Net proceds to be paid to William 
Gilliland at Willsborough, for account of 
George Hicks, £1 15 2 

This was a very cold clear day. 

March, 15th, Guy (?) weather, begins to thaw. 

16th, do do this day John 

Smith joined Burke, in clearing the 20 acres of land at 
Eliz'' point, also five acres onthe hermitage, being the 
name given by my mother to her lot ; this afternoon 
we had some thunder, and at night much rain.^ 

17th, a kind of sleet or snowey light rain, a dark 
warm thawing day. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 157 

17th, this day the following cattle distrained for rent 
were sold at puhlic auction hj me John McAuley, 
Vendue master, hy order of William Gilliland ; the 
day of sale beingpuhlic, advertised previous to it, viz. : 
One red cow and her bull calf, the prop- 
erty of JNIartin Taylor. ^676 
One brindle ox, blind of one eye, the prop- 
erty of Martin Taylor. 3 15 



Charges viz. 






<£10 2 6 


To Yon Chism, G. Belton 








sworn app. £ 





2 




To three advertizements, 


3 






Commission on sale, 


5 


6 


<£ 10 6 


N"eat proceeds. 






<£ 9 12 6 


1 black and white ox, the 




property of Eliakim E. 








Ayers, 






4, 15. 


Charges viz. 








To Chism and Belton town 








apprisers, £ 





2 




To 3 advertizements, 





3 




Commission on salt. 





3 101 


£ 3 lOi 


N"eat proceeds.^ 






<£ 4 6 11 



17th March, laid out a piece of land on my mother's 
lot to be cleared by Jno. Smith and Thos. Burke, be- 
ginning at K. Smith's marked tree, on the bank of 
the lake, and thence west along his S. line 5 chains, 

1 This record is entered in the Town Book in the writing of the 
vendue master. 



158 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

t"hen soutli 10 chains, then east 6 chains 35 links to the 
bank containing 

Run along 'N. Smith's south line, from the bank of 
the lake to the road, distance 20 chains. 

18th March. Run the line between Robt. McAuley 
and John McAuley, and marked the trees back for 
about I of a mile to a very large white oak, the land 
extra good and well timbered. 

This day James Logan came across the lake on the 
ice to acquaint me of his having on .the 16th, arrived 
from Canada with a horse and mare, to know which I 
chose, and for one of my people to bring mine over. 
I chose the mare, and Robt. McAuley went over this 
afternoon after her, and on 

19th, this forenoon he came with the mare, and Mr. 
Logan on his horse.' Yesterday and to-day we had 
pleasant weather, fine sleighing across the lake ; this 
afternoon we went down the river and round Chism's 
point to R. McAuley 's on the ice. This day the Mr. 
McAuleys begun to draw logs for themselves to the saw 
mill, and this day Smith and Burke began to clear on 
my mother's lot. 

20th, a warm pleasant day. 

21st, a close thick snow this morning, it aj^peared 
to have fell 2 inches last night. About sun setting, 
James Logan set out from Eliz* sandy point, with 
his horse and a sleigh load of hay, to go home over 
the ice; he got safe to within about | a mile of his 
house, when his horse fell into a wide crack and was 
drowned; Logan returned to McAuleys; the latter 

1 Tradition states that this was the first horse introduced into Gilli- 
land's Colony. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 159 

part of this day was constant sleet and rain, the wind 
southerly, the forenoon being a wet snow. 

22d, the wind about S. W., continued rain last night 
to 10 o'clock this day; very sloppy and bad walking; 
Logan durst not venture to cross the lake, the snow 
and water concealing the most dangerous places. 

23d, began to freeze a little at 10 last night, and 
continued to this morning, when a slender crust dried 
the snow a little. Logan ventured across the lake, 
and in all appearance got home safe; this is a soft, 
thawing day ; the McAuleys haul home 9 logs how- 
ever, from the white pinery. 

23d, this day agreed with John Smith and Thos. 
Burke to clear the remainder of the front of my moth- 
er's lot, to R. McAuley's line, 5 chains deep from the 
bank of the lake. 

24th, this evening my large young red ox with a 
white face, died at Belton's; on opening him it ap- 
peared he had been hurt at the S° meadow by two of 
the cattle that attacked him (one bein^Martin Taylor's 
ox) and this occasioned his death; the weather warm. 

25th, this afternoon ended with a thick heavy fall of 
snow. 

26th, last night my black sow pig'd out of doors, 
and though it froze pretty keen, her seven young ones 
were found all well this morning, this was a very pleas- 
ant clear day and not cold, the maple trees run fast 
the middle of tlie day. 

27th, a tine moderate day, Logan crossed the lake 
this mornin<y and went home in the afternoon, havino; 
gotG. McAule3'to assist him to get his mare out of the 
lake and the skin taken off her, the ice pretty good. 



160 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Farrell of Stillwater, returiied home a few days ago 
say 25th, on the ice. 

28th, iiue, clear, pleasant weather; froze smartly last 
night. 

29th, a soft day with sleet and rain, and some snow. 

30th, a bright, warm day. 

31st, the sun very hot, froze none last night; this 
day rode my mare on the river to the lake, the ice good 
on both river and lake; this day began to run the line 
round some lots, beginning at l!f. Smith's north line, 
at a hemlock tree, near high Avater mark, at the lake, 
then west 120 chs. to Smith's N. W. corner, where 
marked a white ash and maple, IST. S, No. 2; from be- 
ginning to 6ch., ordinary sandy kind, with brush of 
hemlock &c., from 5 to 20ch, land flat and good, 
Smith's a little rising to the southward; from 20 to 
28, a ridge on this line, at 28 begins flat land; 34ch. 
the road; at43ch. a small creek, which is white creek; 
from 28 to 49, fine, flat,rich land; 49 to 50, a small 
rise; at 52ch,, a spring in Smitli's land runs north- 
ward; 52 to 76 "choice land, some swamp included; 
at 76, is 7 pine trees, and for 2 or 3ch. the land light 
and dry; 78 to 81, ash swamp; 81 to 87, fine, rich, 
level land; 87 to 100, flat, rich land, rather wet; 100 a 
swamp spring; at 100, begins dry land, light soil; 112, 
inclining to swamp to 118, thence to 120 is dry land; 
then run south 18ch. 

At 3ch. came to Batchelor's creek, whose course is 
S. E., 14 to 18 dry land, not extra'; at 18 marked K 
S., S. W. corner on 2 beech saplings, then run on east 
line to the lake, in which the land seems rich, flat, and 

1 This name was applied to tins stream, from tlie McAuley's two 
bachelor brothers who resided on its banks. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 161 

well timbered with oak, ash, hickory, bass, beech and 
maple, no evergreen being on the lot, only about a 
dozen pines, 

April, 1. the ice on the lake looked very black yes- 
terday evening, and not having froze last night, and 
the wind blowing fresh southerly, the f of the ice ap- 
peared to be sunk this morning when we arose about 
6 o'clock, and the wind continuing high and keeping- 
southerly, and having some rain the lake appeared to 
be all open excepting in the bays ; on our return from 
the woods at 3 this afternoon, and in the woods the 
creeks were very high, and in the swamps the ice very 

rotten.^ 

1st April, this morning continued to run lines, be- 
ginning at Mrs. Jane Gilliland's south or R. McAuley's 
north line, at high water mark, and on the bank 
marked a poplar tree on the IST. W. side J G, No. 3, 
and on the S. W. side, R M, 'No. 4, then run west 120 
chains; at 20ch., the top of the hill side; 32 to 36, a 

^ " The sinking of the ice" is a popular fancy, which, of course, has 
no foundation. The sudden disintegration or dissolving of the ice 
sometimes produces its almost instantaneous disappearance. Its break- 
ing up presents a striking and interesting scene The presages of 
this event are readily recognized. The progress of decay is indicated 
by marked and peculiar exhibitions. The ordinary transparent and 
glittering clearness of the ice is changed to a dark and clouded aspect. 
This is succeeded by a soft and ,snowy coloring, produced by the 
moisture leaving the surface. The mass of ice next becomes porous 
and charged with water, and sinks to the level of the surface. In 
this phase its appearance is black and portentous, and excites while 
we contemplate it a feeling of deep awe and dread. The fissures now 
open and expand. The ice separates generally into large fields, and 
driven by the wind is broken up and often piled in huge masses upon 
the shores ; it remains long in the spring a monument of the past em- 
pire of winter. 

21 



162 PIONEER HISTORY OF * 

wet swamp at which White creek begins, I think; 36 
to 45, rich level land; 45 to 50, appears somewhat 
stony; 50 to 55, level laud inclining to swamp; 55 to 
62, level land dry and rich; 62 to 64, a little rise; 64 
to 73, a swamp; 73 to 78, fine flat land; 78 to 82, fine 
flat land, though there is a few pines; 82 to 88, fine 
flat land; 88 to 91, a small rise of dry ground; at 92, 
Batchelor's creek ; 92 to 107, flat rich land ; 107 to 120, 
rises gradually to the top of a high hill, from which 
the lake could he seen if the land was cleared; at 120 
marked an elm tree (a large one), I G-, ISTo. 3, on the 
I^. E. side, and E M, No. 4, the S. E. side, and from 
thence run IN". 15ch., which brought us exactly to IST. 
Smith's S. "VV. corner to the 2 marked saplings. 

From the s*^ elm tree run south 15chs. across the 
rear of R. McAuley's lot, then east along his S". line a 
ch. or 2, marking a tree or 2 thereon, then continued 
the S, line 18ch more across the rear of J. McAuley's 
lot to his S. W. corner, having marked at his N. W. 
corner 2 beech trees on the l!T. E. side, R M, ]!^o. 4, 
and on the S. E. sides, I M, 'No. 5, and at J. McAuley's 
S. W. corner I marked a beech tree, I M, No. 5, on 
the N. E. side thereof; these last 18ch8. of south line, 
being the west bounds of J. McAuley's land, is the top 
of the large hill on each the brush is very close and 
only some single trees which are very large maple. 
Then run east 129^ chains to Lake Champlain to a 
large hemlock tree marked on the N. W. side, I M, 
No. 5; from the beginning of this line which is 2 or 
3ch. over the top of the hill to 15ch. a gradual de- 
scent down to the foot of the hill the side whereof 
appears to be good land, by the goodness of the timber 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. . 163 

wMch is cliiellj of wliite ash, bass, elm, beech, hick- 
ory &c. 

At 15 chains the declivity of the hill ended, and a 
flat of rock land began. At 30 chains a small creek 
runs S. E. At 33 chains Batchelors creek course S. 
E. At 34 to 39 dry land somewhat sandy, having 20 
pine trees in view. At 39 good level laud well tim- 
bered which continues to 60ch., from thence to 65, a 
swamp. At 65 a very rocky brow fronts the west, 
from 65 to 68, piney, light, dry level land ; from 68 to 
96, a fine flat of land with very large hickory, and 
other good timber. At 96 the west brow of a creek 
through which Batchelor creek runs. At 98 Batch- 
elors creek, on both sides of which are several pine 
trees. At lOOch. the east brow of the flat which the 
above creek divides, from 100 to 108 the land though 
flat is very ordinary, and is close covered with brush, 
no large timber. At 108 the land begins to be toler- 
able good, being flat and pretty well timbered with 
elm, beech and hickory &c., and continues so (till 129|- 
chains end) to the lake. 

April 1st, the wetness of this afternoon hurried me 
home to Milltown in order to have my trough secured*, 
least the flood might injure it in case the river should 
break up. On my arrival found a considerable flood 
in the river, though not half broke up, the snow almost 
all off' the cleared land. 

April 2d, a soft, thawing, growing day ; the river rose 
much last night, and continued to rise all this day; I 
got my trough well loaded with large stone wh'''' 
completely secured it. 

3d, soft weather continues ; raised the fence out of 



164 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

our yard; the flood rather lower than yesterday even- 
ing ; last night it was at the highest, having thrown 
up large cakes of ice on, and broke down my fence at 
the S. E. corner of Camp island; the water almost 
surrounded the flat at the lower landing. 

4th, last night we had a little snow and some frost, 
but which was gone by 9 o'clock ; this day was soft 
and not cold, good growing weather; the snow quite 
gone off the cleared land and off the wood land too 
that inclines towards the south. Our cattle finding 
the wood feed good yesterday, did not come home last 
night, even old spark, (the weakest of all) stayed out. 
Some of our cattle quit the hay yard the 20th ult" ex- 
cept when a stormy night happened, when some re- 
turned ; this afternoon I cleared the trough myself and 
raised the sluice at the mill ; this day quit foddering 
our cattle, and Tom came home.^ 

5th, a clear fine day, somewhat windy; it froze last 
night. 

6th, A lovely day, the sun hot, though the wind 
keeps nor'ly. Froze pretty hard last night, set saw 
mill agoing to-day. 

* April 6th, this day set my 3 hands to clear from the 
barn to the lower landing. 

7th and 8th, we were plagued with lumps of ice 
coming down the trough. 

15th, sowed tobacco, cabbage, lettuce, tong grass, 
lettuce, turueps, parsley and spinach seeds in burnt 
brush hearths, also a few peas. 

^The facts here recorded are of value to the climatologist . So early 
an advent of sjDring seldom occurs in this latitude. It indicates 
that little or no mitigation of the climate has taken place in the century. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 165 

19tli, our Saratoga wheat looks well ; the Canada 
do very ord'^. Went down to the lake with all the 
ladies and children. 

21st, a dark windy day with some rain ; went to re- 
pair my bateau. 

22d, a heavy rain until about 2 o'clock, at 3 the sun 
shone warm until night; 11, we all set off from Mc- 
Auley's in a canoe for home. The river forces its yel- 
low stream almost to the middle of the lake with an 
abundance of brush and old logs. When we came to 
the river the rapidity of the stream at the mouth of 
the river made it extremely difficult to get into the 
river, in which the prodigious flood carries hundreds 
of old logs down the stream, the rapidity of which 
would not admit of our getting further up than the S. 
end of half way island, where we went ashore and 
walked up the hill thro' the pinery by way of the 
barn home, the flood not permitting us to walk on the 
bank of the river. 

23d, the flood continued rising to one this morning, 
it rose to the height of the top of the little house at 
the far side of the river ; at the near side it rose about 
a foot higher than the rock on which the house stands, 
covering the whole of the yard on the other side of the 
trough ; it carried away the trough to the new kitchen, 
and a canoe or bateau might have sailed over the north 
end of camp island, where much of the fence was car- 
ried away ; it equally covered the whole of the flat on 
this side of the creek ; it has done considerable damage 
to my wheat.' 

^The Boquet, which drains a wide and mountainous region, is re- 
markable for the magnitude and suddenness of its floods. 



166 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

24tli, this afternoon Mr. James Gilliland arrived 
from 'New York, having left his wife and cflects at 
Fort Greorge. 

25th, JSTesbit Deane engaged a farm on Eliz'' point, 
beginning 15ch. to the S. ward of Jno. McAuley's lot. 

May 5th, John and James Young, James Gilliland 
and his wife and Anne Hussey arrived this day from 
K". York. 

7th, went with the Youngs to view land ; they like 
the tract much. 

15th, sowed flax seed. 

15th and 16th, planted beans and peas and sowed 
seeds in the garden. 

18th and 19th, planted coucumbers, squashes and 
more beans, and sowed carrots and parsneps, radishes 
and lettuces ; some of those radishes were inches 
girth the 26th July (interlined). 

18th, went with the Youngs to lay out lots which 
they made choice ot^ and engaged from me at 12s '^ 
acre, I giving each of them 50 acres at 1£ sterling '^ 
acre forever, viz. — John Young's lot begins at a pine 
tree standiug at the edge of the lake on cape Eliz'' 
(being William McAuley's S. E. tree) and runs from 
thence W. 147ich., then S. 18ch., then E. to the lake, 
and';along the lake to the place of beginning, contain- 
ing 265 acres of land. James Young's tract begins at 
Eliz" sandy point, and runs thence W. 139ch., S. 21ch., 
east to Lake Champlain, and along the lake as it runs 
to the place of beginning, cout^ 264 acres of land. In- 
terest to be paid after the expiration of 12 mos. from 
this date. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 167 

21st, planted the first ourlucl" com on the west end 
of the bay. 

22d, Messrs. Young set out for home, being deter- 
mined to return here next spring, and possibly in the 
fall. 

23d, planted more Indian corn on the bay. 

29th, finished planting corn. 

July 5th, some of our cucumbers, Windsor beans 
and peas are shaped. 

6th, sowed turnep seed on the landing point. 

10th, sowed do on new garden ground. 

20th, sowed do on camp island. 

]Sr. B. 1st Jane, planted peas which being old did 
not grow. 

June 2d, planted the following ; muskmelons, shaped 
20th July; radishes, lettuce, tong grass, parsley, sa- 
vory, celeri, late cabbages, mustard, leeks and onions ; 
they all came up very short, owing I believe to dry 
weather. 

At this date, the Journal, in any methodical ari\ange- 
ment, terminates, and in the form of a diary is not 
formally resumed. The annals of the colony, and the 
personal history of Gilliland are enlightened by only 
slight traditions and by casual remarks and memo- 
randa in the Journal; by letters and documentary ma- 
terials in form of oflicial memorials and petition. 
These, however, are of much interest, and seem to am- 
ply authenticate the facts and statements they embrace. 

The next entrj in the Journal, or Willsboro Town 
Book, as the volume was also designated, was on the 
15th July, 1772, and purports to be a record of a public 



168 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

sale. The lieading is worthy of attention. It exhibits 
a patriarchal state of society, that recognized in a bus- 
iness transaction the simplest method and the most 
primitive currency. 

" Agreeable to Advertisement published and put 
up at the house of Thomas Shaford and that of Elia- 
kan Ayers, the sale of said Ayers farm and effects is 
that day brought on at his late house, for immediate 
payment in ready money, produce or work equivalent, 
viz.:" This is in the writing of Mr. Gilliland, but the 
details of the sale are recorded by another hand. 

One item in the charges of the "Vendue Master," 
would scarcely be recognized at this day as a legitimate 
claim upon the proceeds, "rum at the Vendue." .£0-2-0. 

1775. Nothing further appears in the journal except 
memoranda of contracts for the sale or leasing of lands 
until the 17th March, 1775. During this period mo- 
mentous changes had occurred along the shores of 
Lake Champlain. The armed occupation of Ticonde- 
roga and Crown Point had almost terminated. Less 
than an entire company of troops repres'ented the vast 
legions which had been marshalled upon these scenes. 
The colony of Mr. Gilliland had rapidly advanced in 
population and the arts of peace. The smoke was ari- 
sing from the hut of the settler, amid numerous clear- 
ings in the wilderness along the borders of the Lake 
from Crown Point to the line of Canada. 

At this time the impressive incident occurred of 
the adoption of the following covenant by the settlers. 
In the comments on this event, which 1 presented in 
the biography of Gilliland, I have expressed my views 
of its character and significance. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 169 

"WiLLSBORO March ITtli 1775. 

We the subscribers, inbabitants of Willsboro, find- 
ing it necessary to make regulations concerning roads, 
fences, bridges, and hogs, have this day assembled 
for that purpose, and have entered into the following 
resolves. To be binding on us respectively hy every 
Tie of honor and honesty, for the space of twelve months 
from this date, and also to be equally binding on such 
other persons as may become inhabitants of this settle- 
ment during the said term, which resolves are entered 
upon by a majority of votes. ^ 

First, concerning roads, it is thought necessary the 
roads should be two rods wide, but for the present year 
only to be made as the overseers shall think sufficient. 
The owners to clear the wood ofi'of his own lot for one 
road as far as the road goes on his lot. 

Secondly — it is resolved, that the road so far as it 
may pass through land not taken up shall be made in 
the manner before mentioned ; also the bridges to be 
made of good, lasting timber and such banks as must 
be dug away, shall be done by the settlement in general. 
Each man assisting thereat fiiithfully, who are capable 
thereof, on being thereunto named by the overseers. 

Thirdly — resolved, that as to bridges it is necessary 
to build one across Mr. McAuley's creek ; one across 
the gully, one across Plum creek ; one across Mr. 

iHere is the essence of a democratic and representative government. 
The majority control, make laws, and levy taxes, and those who vol- 
untarily become members of the community are to be governed by this 
action. The identity of spirit and almost of language in this humble 
compact, and the memorable pledge which, scarcely a year later, linked 
together an heroic band of patriots, is somewhat remarkable. 

22 



170 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Ithamer Days creek, and the bank to be dug away ; 
one across Armstrong and McGinniss brook, one across 
the two brooks of George Brymers, and one across a 
small brook opposite to Mr. George Belton's house; 
also that the road from Mr. Belton's to Mr. Gilliland's 
saw mill shall be kept open and passable at the gen- 
eral charge as above ; the whole to be done next fall 
as the overseers shall direct; and such persons as shall 
fail or neglect to perform their part shall pay such 
other person or persons as shall be hired at five shil- 
lings per day, and that neither gates or bars shall ob- 
struct the said road.^ 

Secondly — as to fences, resolved, that if any damage 
shall be committed by small or large cattle on the land 
or lots of those whose fences are five feet high and 
otherwise close and strong, the same shall be paid by 
the owner of said cattle according as the overseers of 
the fences shall apprize, providing that hogs shall be 
yoked from the first of July, to the middle of October 
with good and suflicient yokes. 

Also that the roads shall be laid out betwixt this 
time and next fall by the overseers assisted by Mr. 
Gilliland. 

And as to deer catching, resolved, that the owners 
of such good dogs as shall be employed in deer catch- 
ing shall have one share and half, and each man one 
share, and such inhabitants as choose to join shall be 
admitted. 

And, lastly, that it is resolved, that Mr. Gilliland 

'The commutation of five shillings per day for highway tax is astat- 
utory provision of the state. I will notventure to assert that this ac- 
tiou of the Boquet settlers formed the precedent. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 171 

sliall be moderator, and Mr. Jotham Gardner town 
clerk, and Mr. Thomas Day and Mr. Martin Armstrong 
overseers of the road, fences, and cattle. 

To the foregoing we the subscribers do hereunto set 
our hands the day and date just above written.^ 

Will Gilliland. 

Thomas Day. 

Martin Armstrong. 

Ebenezer "White. 

George Bremmers. 

George Belton. 

William Wykes. 

N^ATHANIEL BlOOD. 

Jonathan Flint. 

Thomas Day. 

William Cammeron. 

Jotham Gardner. 

Jacob Gardner. 
Memorandum that Mr. Martin Day's mark of cattle 
is a cross of the right ear and a slit in it. 

Martin Armstrong's mark, a slit in the left ear and 
a hapany under the right. 

Ebenezer White's mark, ahalf cross under the right 

ear. 

GeorgeBremmer'smark,a slit in the right ear cross- 
ways the upper side. 

George Belton's mark, a hole in the right ear the 
under side. 

William Wyke's mark, a hole in the right ear and a 
slit in the under side the left. 

1 Gilliland is here recognized, it will be observed, as a distinct and 
superior authority in the settlement. This compact is not in his writ- 
ing. The absence of his clear and nervous style is very palpable. 



172 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Nathaniel Blood's mark, a cross of the left ear. 

Jonathan and Joseph Flint, a cross of the right ear 
and two hapanys under the left. 

Ithamer Day's mark, a hole in the right ear and a 
slit in the same. 

William Cammeron's mark two slits in the end of 
the right ear. 

Jotham Gardner's mark, a cross of the left ear and 
a slit in the same. 

Jacob Gardner's mark, a cross of the left ear and 
two slits in the same. 

Capt. Robert McAuley's mark, a cross of the right 
ear and slit in the end of the left. 

Israel Heck's mark, a slit in the end of the right ear 
and a half peny nnder the same. 

James Leonard's mark, a half cross of the nnder side 
the right ear and a slit in the end of the left. 

John Grant's mark, a hole through each ear.^ ' 

14th June, 1775. "W"" Hay engages 100 acres of 
land to the southward of his present lot. Nathan Nich- 
ols engages 300 acres of land for himself to the south- 
ward of and adjoining to W™ Hay's land. Also engages 
all the land between the farms of Henry Cross and 
John Byantum, Henry Cross engages 100 acres of 
land for himself to the southward of his present lot ; 
W" Gilliland reserves for his daughter 200 acres of 
land to the southward of Henry Cooper's lot. John 
Byantum has engaged 200 acres at Monty's Chantier. 

1 These records evincethepresenceof authority and the recognition of 
legal liabilities. It shows also thatthis compact was considered an act- 
uality, and that its resolves would be enforced. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 173 

Town meeting held by the inhabitants of "Wills- 

BORO THE 9th DAY OF APRIL, 1776. 

The majority hath made choice of Mr. Thomas Day 
for moderator, and Jotham Gardner clerk, and Joseph 
Flint and James Leonard overseers, with the same 
power the overseers had the preceding year, which 
majority hath agreed that theroad shall be opened and 
made passable for carriages from Joseph Flint's to the 
mouth of the river, and a bridge made across White 
creek. 

The following persons not having subscribed their 
names the last year, have hereunto subscribed their 
names. 

John Grant. 

John Dugnis. 

Thomas Leonard. 

Egbert McAuley. 

John Wilson. 

his 

Harel X Leech. 

mark. 

Jonathin Day. 
George Corull. 
Isreal Day. 
Done at Willsboro the day and date above mention- 
ed, by order of the moderator. 

JoTHAM Gardner, Town Clerk.^ 

^Thia action of the settlers, in accordance with the provisions of the 
compact of the preceding year, recognizes and confirms it as a perma- 
nent organization. An inspection of the above signatures and those at- 
tached to the former compact, will exhibit the fact that the list em- 
braces the names of only two individuals who were among the original 
colonists, or who are mentioned in the early journals of Gilliland. The 



174 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

1777. The nextdocumentin chronological order is the 
remarkable memorial addressed by Gilliland to con- 
gress. It is without date, but bears intrinsic evidence 
of having been written during the year 1777. I have 
had frequent occasion to advert to it, and although I 
have quoted large portions of it in elucidation of the 
history of Gilliland, I deem it appropriate to copy the 
paper entire, in the exact form the draught appears in 
the volume containing the journal. Its force and char- 
acter can be thus more justly appreciated. It will be 
regarded as an extraordinary production, equally from 
the great ability with which it is conceived, and the 
vigor and eloquence in which he gives utterance to 
his convictions of injustice and oppression. The por- 
traiture of Arnold is traced by the spirit of prophecy. 

The memorial accomplishes what its author designed, 
an ample vindication from the charges of Arnold, which 
are noticed in the life of Gilliland, and exhibits an 
epitome of Gilliland's services, suft'erings and losses. 
To the Hon'ble members of the 
Continental Congress 

The Memorial of William Gilliland late of Wills- 
boro on the west side of Lake Champlain 
Most Humbly Sheweth. 

That in consequence of near twelve years, close ap- 
plication, diligence & industry k at veiy great expence, 
your memoralist, accomplished his arduous undertak- 
ing of forming & establishing, the first English settle- 
first immigrant had disaiopeared from the colony. And thus it is almost 
uniformly in the history of our country. The Pioneer opens the 
wilderness and levels the highway for the advance of civilization, but 
as its march approaches he recedes, and passes onward to new scenes 
of toil, and to incur fresh privations, 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 175 

ment ever attempted, in the dreary wilds of Lake 
Champlain, then ahnost a hundred miles from any- 
Christian neighborhood. That, besides his own im- 
provements on three several farms, your memoralist 
had 98 other Inhabitants on his land, who were very 
considerably indebted to your mem'"'; the preserva- 
tion of whose crops, being the only prospect of pay- 
ment which your mem'' had. 

That from some discoveries, which Gen. Carlton 
made of your mem'' political sentiments in June 1775, 
he offered a reward of five hundred dollars to any per- 
son that would take your mem^' & carry him prisoner 
to Canada; that several attemj)ts were made from time 
to time to accomplish this without effect ; sundry parties 
having been obstructed, & the only party who got the 
length, having been made prisoners by your mem' & 
sent bound to Gen Schuyler, tho well provided with a 
blunderbuss & six other fire arms, — they were headed 
by Sheriff White of Tryon county, consisted of 4 
Tories & 3 Savages, w^ere to join the enemy at S' Johns, 
w^here White w^as to have raised a company to join 
Coll McLean's emigrants. That your mem' has reason 
to think that he was the first person who laid a plan 
for & determined upon seizing Ticonderoga, C. Point 
and the Kings armed vessel, & therewith the entire 
command of Lakes George & Champlain. That by 
means of your mem' an unhappy dispute, w'' subsisted 
between M"" Allen and M' Arnold (the then rival Heads 
of our handful of people on L Champlain) was com- 
posed. In consequence of w'"" 3-our mem" (besides 
several other matters) took the Liberty of recommend- 



176 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

ing to your honors, the embodying the Green Moun- 
tain bo3^s. Col. Allen delivered the letter — 

That your mem'"' property to the amount of several 
hundred pounds, is stopped by the ministerial troops 
in Canada, because of his known attachment to the 
glorious cause of American independence, now at 
stake. That your mem'"' having entertained good 
opinion of Mr. Arnold, did his utmost endeavors, with 
a committee from the congress of Mass., to have him 
continued in the command at C. Point; and after he 
was turned out of the service, your mem'^' was the 
means of procuring credentials for his being reinstated, 
by furnishing him with the unanimous voice of the 
civil and military in the northern department in his 
favor, by an address which was drawn up by your 
mem''' and presented to him for that purpose; w'ch 
was the chief friend he had to introduce him to the 
fav'r of the prov'j Congress and of Gen. Washington, 
when it was expected by many, that he would have 
met quite a diiierent reception. 

That, by means of your mem''' our army were sup- 
plied with as many water craft as transported several 
hundred men from C. Point to Canada, whither he 
conducted Gen. Montgomery safe, from his better 
knowledge of the navigation, than perhaps any other 
person then with that Genl. That in testimony of 
your mem'^* warm attachment to and hearty affection 
for your northern army, he embraced every opportunity 
of rendering them all the encouragement in his power. 
From the Gen'l down to the centenel, he has enter- 
tained 3 or 4000 men at his own expence — he never 
charged a shilling for vegetables, salmon, milk or any 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 177 

tiling else lie had to spare them — has complimented 
them with 1500 salmon in one season ; has supplied a 
numerous company under Capt. Lamar with bread 
and meat as long as he or his settlers had a pound, 
during a long stay w'cli they were obliged to make at 
his place, and thereby reduced his and the families of 
his tenants, to suft'erings they were before unused to; 
had every deserter that appeared in his settlement 
taken up and sent to the army ; has lain weeks to- 
gether on straw in a com'n room, that sick and wounded 
officers and sold'rs that were sent to or stopt at his 
house might be more comfortably accommodated, 
sometimes taking them to Ticonderoga (45 miles dis- 
tant) at his own charge, and had every sold'er who died 
in his settlement inter'd in decent coffins, with the 
honors of war. 

The only association agreement enter'd into; the 
only company of minute men formed on either side of 
Lake Champlain yr mem'^* established on his -settle- 
ment; and for example sake, stood in the ranks him- 
self, and did his utmost endeavors to introduce the 
like among all the other settlements at or near the lake, 
and finally every 3d man of his tenants enter'd into the 
countrys service. That, shortly before the retreat of 
our army from Canada your mem' ^* was intimidated by 
frequent alarms and thereupon removed his children 
and most valuable effects to Crown Point and returned 
to save his and his tenants crops ; intending to have 
them removed to Ticonderoga as soon as preserved ; 
that in the interim Gen. Sullivan having retreated 
with the army from Canada, he told your mem''*' how 
much his sick stood in need of our milch cows and beef 
23 



178 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

cattle, that your mem'^* did not wait for Gen. Sulli- 
van's compulsive orders (wliicli were afterAvards given) 
to enforce our removal, but had about 100 head re- 
moved to C. Point immediately, not doubting that he 
should be paid their value agreeably to the Genl 
promise; but was most unexpectedly disappointed by 
the injustice of the commissary s — one of whom said, 
that iK)w your mem'®* cattle were there, 'twas in his 
power to take what advantage he thought proper in 
the price of them ; and another offering only |th part 
of their real value. 

That, the crops belonging to your mem'st and his 
tenants, being of very considerable value, and their 
preservation of much importance to our army, he apply*^ 
for, and obtained from Gen. Gates, a small party of 
men to secure and preserve the same, for which pur- 
pose he returned home with the party to prosecute the 
business ; that during the time of his stay at his settle, 
Major Hay, A D Q M G came to his place and made 
a firm agree't with y"" mem^*^ for the Avhole, agreeable 
to the account herewith, which your mem°' has fre- 
quently applyed for payment of, to the Gent, whom 
your honors have been pleased to appoint commis- 
sioners for liquidating ac*^*** without olfeet; by which 
your niem^* has obtained very considerable loss; as by 
his having had it in his power to employ that sum in 
trade, the benefits arising would no doubt have kept 
pace with the depreciation in the value of money. 
Shortly after entering into the above agree'' your mem^' 
fully determined to remove himself, his slaves, stocks, 
crops, and such portable furniture aud tools as remained 
behind, to Ticonderoga; made a kind of cellar in the 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 



179 



woods, in wliicli he hid his saw and grist mill irons, 
and a great variety of other irons, and some steel ; in 
value at that time, not less than X200; loaded two 
batteaux with household stuff and other articles, and 
brought them and his whole family then remaining, to 
the house of one of the tenants, 3 miles south from 
where your mem*** then lived ; only waiting for a north- 
erly wind to favor their passage to C. Point; for which 
purpose y'r mem'st had the boats hauled a good way 
up on the shore, without unloading them, keeping his 
people in the meanwhile closely employed in harvest- 
ing. Here y' mem^* remained 2 or 3 days, not daring 
to stay at home, being there much more dangerously 
situated should an enemy come; during this period, 
Gen. Arnold then down the lake with the fleet, in re- 
ward for your mem-^ zeal in the cause, for the mani- 
fold services he had rendered our army, and for a rec- 
ompense of the eminent services he had rendered him, 
or rather to cancel all obligations due to your memor- 
alist on that score, sent a party of soldiers to tear y"" 
mem^* away from his property, dignifying him with an 
officer for their commander, whose rank was so hio-h 
as a sergeant, with private orders not to sufter him to 
remove any part of his property. By which means 
besides 28 dwelling houses, and above 40 other houses, 
two grist, and two mills, all our gardens, orchard 
fences, &c., &c,, now left and exposed to the vindictive 
fury of ministerial vengeance, y' mem^* is for the pre- 
sent divested of other property to the amount of JL ^ 

^In another document, verified by his oath, Mr. Gilliland exhibits a 
schedule, in which the aggregate of his various losses from the causes 
assigned is estimated at £3,943 15 10. This I infer from collateral 
circumstances was sterling currency. 



180 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

as per the annexed act''' which he most humbly im- 
plores your hon''^ to have reimbursed in such manner, 
as in your wisdom and justice shall seem right. Gen. 
Arnold is your servant; all the power and authority 
he has, is derived from you, and that has enabled him 
to commit the acts of tyranny and outrage upon y' 
mem'^* and many others, w^hose complaints have been 
laid before you. It is not in mine, but it is in your 
power to bring him to justice. Bursting with pride and 
intoxicated with power to wh"** he ever ought to have 
been a stranger, but wh"^ he has had art enough to ob- 
tain from you, he tyrannizes where he can. If temer- 
ity, if rashness impudence and error can recommend 
him to you, he is allowed to be amply supplied with 
these qualities, and many people think they ought to 
recommend him in a peculiar manner to L*^ IlTorth, who 
in gratitude, for his having done more injury to the 
American cause, than all the ministerial troops, have 
had the power of doing ought to reward him with a 
generous pension — He used his utmost endeavors to 
prevent y" mem'®' from returning to his place to pre- 
serve and remove to Ticonderoga his crops and other 
property, and when passing y" mem^ settlement with 
the fleet, brought them to anchor just opposite to it ; 
sufl'ering the most disorderly the most licentious fellows 
on shore, where in a few hours time they carried off or 
destroyed of my property to near the amount £ be- 
sides the outrages committed on our homes. I com- 
plain not, that by the breaking up of my settlement I 
am divested of an annual income of more than a thou- 
sand pounds; this is a misfortune, a calamity to Avhich 
every person is subject whose situation is equally dan- 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 181 

gerous and whose political sentiments are as publicly 
known as were mine. On your love of justice, on the 
humanity and tenderness I believe y"' hon""^ to be pos- 
sessed, do I entirely rely, on your taking this matter 
into your serious consideration. I solicit you not for 
a present pecuniary indemnification on that score, but 
being now entirely divested of all employment, which 
to an active mind is very disagreeable, I take the lib- 
erty of making you a tender of my services in such 
situation as I am qualified for in the promotion of the 
common cause of American Freedom; hoping you 
will be favorably pleased to honor me with such ap- 
pointment as will not derogate from my former sta- 
tion ; as shall enable me to support a numerous family 
of motherless children and in some measure be a com- 
pensation for the loss of my income. But in a pecul- 
iar manner y"" mem** humbl}^ entreats that y"" Honors 
will be favorably pleased to order payment for the 
crops y'' mem**^ sold to the Q' M' Gen' for the use of 
the army and restitution or indemnification for loss of 
personal property he sustained by means of Gen. 
Arnold. This is the praj^er of your mem^* and that 
your councils may be directed by wisdom, and your 
endeavours in this grand conflict may be forever 
blessed with the smile of Heaven. 

WILL GILLILAND 
The following memorial, which was addressed to the 
committee of safety of Albany, although long, will be 
read with interest. It explains the frivolous causes 
which led to their second arrest of Guilliland, and vin- 
dicates his patriotism. The severe strictures upon the 
conduct of Gates, imputing to him the secreting and 



182 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

evasion of liis slaves, — the strong appeal to the au- 
thority he addresses to maintain the sanctity of the 
civil over the military power, and the prophetic warn- 
ing he ntters of the consequences which must flow 
from the ascendency of the latter, and the copious 
narration of his own unrequited services, his suffer- 
ing and sacrifices, are combined and mingle in a valu- 
able portraiture of the times. 

(Copy) original delivered 17 Jan., 78. 
To the respectable the committee for the city of Albany 

Albany Fort, 15th January 1778. 
Gentlemen. 

When I found that my negro woman 
had deserted my house, and had been harbour'd at 
Genl. Gate's, I wrote to major Pierce, his A. D. camp, 
requesting that she might be immediately restored to 
me ; the answer I received was (not that the commit- 
tee should take the matter in hand and do me justice) 
but in an imperious and arbitrary style, he wrote to 
me, that I should knoio his sentiments thro the comimiitee, 
thereby arregating to himself the power of dictating 
to your board, as if you were creatures of his own, or 
a piece of machinery to be by him acted upon, as in 
his supposed ascendency OA^er you he thought fit to 
direct. I Lave lately experienced that his expectations 
were too well founded, by your ready acquiescence in 
his desire to rescind the resolve of your board for my 
enlargement, and to remand me to prison for no other 
assigned reason but my having in Sept. or Oct. last, 
told Mr. Vanvranka (a person who had been Lieut, in 
our service, and who sustained the character of a good 
friend to the American cause,) what I had heard or 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 183 

read in a news paper, publisliecT by the authority of 
the state, concerning our loss at the battle near Brandy 
Wine. This piece of news I mentioned to him on the 
supposition that such relation could have no ill eftect, 
as it had no farther credit with either he or myself than 
the accustomed exaggerated accounts of the enemy de- 
serve. If however I was blamable in mentioning the 
affairs to him, how much more so was he by propagat- 
ing and spreading the report to ten times, perhaps one 
hundred times as many others, with additional and ag- 
gravating circumstances which never have existed any 
where but in the chaos of his own brain ? But behold ! 
I am punished with the loss of my liberty, whilst he 
goes at large about his business as formerly without 
being, even repremanded, that I have heard of I am 
very sorry, gentlemen that I have reason to lament so 
flagrant an instance of partiality should ever prevail 
among those who ought to discountenance every thing 
that has the least resemblance of so bad a practice. 
Equally have I reason to complain of the unprecedent- 
ed severity of conflning my person, thereby depriving 
me of the choicest and most valuable of all privileges, 
my liberty, for only purchasing a free article introduced 
to me as part of the spoils of Burgoyne's army, picked 
up after the battle of the 7th Oct., on the road or in 
the fields where his soldiers scattered them, after they 
laid down their arms. When its not thought any 
crime in Major Stippens to enter my house with an 
armed force, and carry away and detain from me my 
property to a considerable amount without even prov- 
ing or attempting to prove his having any right to or 
interest in the same. 



184 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

"With equal impunity, has General Gate's divested 
me of my remaining slaves by aflbrding them encour- 
agement to desert my service, and harbouring them 
in his own house, and then refusing to restore them to 
me, till finally they are either secreted away or allowed 
an opportunity of making their escape, as is supposed 
out of the state, although I earnestly importuned him to 
return the young one to me, and that he would secure 
the old one, so as to prevent her escaping, which I had 
reason to think was her design. I also requested, he 
would order a feather bed to be restored to me, which the 
negro woman got some villain to steal out of my house 
for her use in the General's ; but all to no purpose, his 
ears were deaf to my entreaties. I much suspect she 
was suborned to give evidence against me, by the ex- 
pectation given her of obtaining her freedom, the better 
to qualify her to swear away the life, liberty, or proper- 
ty of her lawful master, and it is very likely that to 
you gentlemen, I am indebted for her being disap- 
pointed and prevented from executing so hellish a de- 
sign. I wrote at large to General Gate's about my 
slaves and bed, and herewith hand you a copy of my 
letters, to which he promised, you would send me an 
answer, but I have not seen any. I also send for your 
perusal several certificates and aft'ects of gentlemen of 
repute, now in town, amounting to ample proof of 
her being a slave. 

You are very sensible, gentlemen, thai no laws Divine or 
Human, justifies such acts of violence and op2)ression, as 
those now inactising upon me! Will you the guardains of 
these parts be tame spectators thereof, without exercising that 
authority vested in you by the suffrage of a free people to 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 185 

'prevent military officers [the more dangerous as they are more 
exalted in rank) to sap the foundation of our nev) constitution 
before it he sufficiently established, and thro the persecution 
of an innocent individual to make the most dangerous attack 
and innovation upon the sacred rights and most inestimable 
priviledges of the people; of those especially who are your im- 
mediate constituents. Where then are the benefits expected 
from magna charter, the bill of rights, the habeas corjnis 
act, and all other p)rivilcdges now contending for, and ivhich 
the subjects of free and independent states claim, and ever 
ought to enjoy. Are they to be trampled upon by the military 
through the timidity of those in civil authority ? No, I trust 
not, though 1 dread the consequences of precedents from ivhich 
evils of the most enormous size, ayid pernicious iemlency, 
may originate and floio. 

By the losses I have above complained of having 
sustained, and by the robbery of my cellar a few nights 
ago, of upwards of four hundred pounds value of 
liquor, sugar, &c., out of the little I have saved and 
brought from home with me, I am poorer by near a 
thousand pounds, since my confinement, exclusive of 
my exposure here (which for very obvious reasons is 
considerable) and besides the charge of supporting a 
large and helpless famil3^ in times of the greatest 
dearth that was ever known, or felt in this or any 
other country. I have nothing coming in to support 
so heavy a charge; I am, by being unnecessarily con- 
fined here, deprived of the opportunity of using any 
kind of industry", or of following any business to make 

a livelyhood, or support for my family by my health 

is impaired, confinement has an ill effect on my con- 
stitution, which is on the decline. 
24 



186 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

You in general know me, gentlemen, and many of 
you are so well acquainted with my political senti- 
ments, that I am sure such cannot, do not, doubt of 
my attachment to American Independence. If after all 
any of you have the least doubts, or harbour any sus- 
picion about me, I make it my earnest request that 
3'ou will, in justice to me, and to satisfy yourselves, 
have no means untried to investigate the truth, enquire 
under oath; among all my acquaintances, my intimates, 
my relations, Mother, Brother, Sisters, and my child- 
ren ; nay even among your Tory prisoners (with whom 
I was 7 or 8 days confined in the city hall,) whether I 
ever appeared in conduct or conversation, any other 
than a stanch Whig, and warm friend to American 
Independence and freedom, from the battle of Lexing- 
ton to this present hour. Nay, that my being so may 
appear to you still more clearly, I beg your attentive 
perusal of a paper which accompanies this, (which was 
intended to be handed to a certain general) wherein 
are enumerated so many instances of my zealous at- 
tachment to the cause of my bleeding country, that 
none of you can with justice doubt of my sincerity, 
when I tell you I am able to prove the whole to be a 
fact, and even to fall far short of the real services I 
have rendered. 

In the midst of this my distress, overwhelmed with 
reiterated injury and most unjustly stigmatised with the 
odious appellation of being inimical to the cause of 
America, it affords me matter of no small consolation 
to reflect on my happiness in having been educated in 
those o-enerous sentiments which constitute the real 
friend to the rights of mankind, and that no injury can 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 187 

rob or deprive me of this blessing. I have inherited 
those sentiments from my progenitors, they are con- 
stitutionally blended in my frame and nature. 

Even among the officers now in town, though few 
of whom have crossed Lake Champlain, and are there- 
fore strangers to me, a number of them have visited 
me here, who not forgetting the kindness I showed to 
them and the troops at Lake Champlain, are ready to 
certify or prove it to you if called on : you have the 
certificates of several of them herewith, and would 
have had many more had I been abroad and among 
them. I flatter myself that did you know the great 
expense I have been at, the many difficulties and great 
fatigue I have undergone, in forming and establishing 
the first settlement on the extreme portion of this state, 
in the midst of a howling wilderness, then near 100 
miles from any Christian settlement, you would readi- 
ly admit that I have been as useful a subject of this 
state as any other in it, in proportion to my opportuni- 
ties, as thereby I provided a comfortable asylum for 
the distressed and the industrious poor, of whom up- 
ward of one hundred were well settled on my lands 
when this war began, but by the horrors thereof were 
unhappily obliged to fly from their all, when our army 
retreated from Canada, and being destitute of any 
shelter they were exposed to the necessity of breathing 
the noxious vapors of a camp so infected with the most 
malignant species of disease that it might rather be 
called an hospital. Many of them have died, and the 
others mostly ruined, all considerably in my debt. 

Thus was my flourishing settlements broken up and 
ruined, two grist mills, two saw mills, upward of 50 



188 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

houses, and many other valuable improvements, our 
family, furuiture, tools for agriculture, valuable crops 
secured in stacks and barns ; horses, swine, and many 
horned cattle, all left exposed to the vindictive fury of 
arbitrary power, doubly irritated against us for the 
forwardness we showed in asserting the rights of our 
country. From a handsome income arising from my 
tenants, farms, mills, &c., and from the greatest part 
of my personal property, have I fled ; those have I 
sacrificed to the fury of the enemy, rather than join 
with aid or comfort them ; and have thrown myself, my 
aged mother, my motherless children, into your arms, 
into the American arms for shelter and protection, 
no way doubting but my uncommon losses and great 
suifering would be considered, as they ought to be by 
those who profess themselves the friends and guardians 
of their suffering bretheren. But lo ! behold the recep- 
tion I have met with, the treatment I have received : 
instead of. alleviating my distress by acts of kindness 
and beneficence, I am shut up in a prison, while arbi- 
trarily and villainously deprived of the most of what 
little I preserved from the ruin of my settlements and 
estate, while my poor children are left to suffer, and to 
perform such servile labors, by being deprived of my 
slaves, as was little expected they should ever be re- 
duced tb the necessity of doing. I hope, gentlemen, 
you will pardon the trouble I give you of so long a 
letter, and that you are by this time so fully satisfied 
of the firmness and sincerity of my attachment to the 
common cause in which you are engaged, that you 
will freel}'^ enlarge me, and give me such an honorable 
acquital in writing, as will eradicate and forever wipe 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 189 

away the stain of every charge of having intentionally 
erred, so as to occasion my long confinement; by which 
you will in some measure compensate for my suffer- 
ings thereby and greatly oblige gentlemen, 

your most obed't, tho' much distressed 

humble servant 
"Will'm. Gilliland. 

1780. Another interval of nearly three years occurs 
in which I can find no trace of Gilliland's residence or 
occupation. It appears, however, from the next entry 
in his journal, that he was absent from his possessions 
on Lake Champlain. This memorandum is of some 
historical interest, as it indicates that although in the 
nominal occupation of the British army, the country, by 
the armistice between Gen^ Haldimand and the author- 
ities of Vermont, was open to a very liberal pacific inter- 
course, and that iSTewEngland enterprise was preparing 
its emigration to the attractive territory. 

July 31st, 1780. Memorandum of persons, names 
and places of abode, who have made application to me 
for land near Lake Champlain. 

Acres. 

Jojjathan Parker, Mapletown, - - 300 

Samuel Hadlock, do - - - 300 

Clark Parker, Bennington, - - - 200 

Ezekiel Parker, Shaftsbury, - - - 300 

Benjamin Parker, Bennington, - - 100 

And seven others amounting in the aggregate to 2200 

Joseph Carder of Scituate, Rhode Island State, 14 

miles from Providence, offers 6d. lawful money per ton 

for iron ore and raise it at his own expence, 500 to 1000 



1 90 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

tons annually.^ John Tibbets applies for himself and 
others for 10,000 acres on Grand Isle. 

1782, June 7th, Samuel Bush, Rutland, Otter creek, 
has spoken for 4160 acres lying about half on each 
side of Salmon river, being about 2 miles E. and W. 
and about 3 miles along the lake, prices mentioned 208 
York per acre, to be paid in 5 years and | interest. 

1783, March 13th, Job Gilbert, owner of Berkshire 
furnace at Lenox, proposes to be concerned in iron 
works, at Lake Champlain, or to buy the ore at one 
shilling lawful money per ton and raise it at his ex- 
pense. Mem. to write him as soon as we may safely 
visit the place. 

From this date to February, 1784, several pages of 
the Journal are occupied by entries of the names of 
applicants and memoranda of contracts for the pur- 
chase of land. These names exceed two hundred, and 
embrace in their applications an aggregate of more 
than sixty thousand acres of land. These persons re- 
sided in various sections of New England, and the 
southern portion of New York. The facts are of inter- 
est as they reveal the wonderful tide of immigration 
which was pouring into the Champlain Yalley, but I 
perceive no obj ect that will be fo warded by introducing 
the details. This was the palmy epoch of Gilliland's 
career, when he seemed about to grasp the fruition of 
all his toils and enterprise. 

The next document in order, presages the approach 

'These entries disclose the early attention which was attracted to 
the great mineral wealth of this region. To Gillilaud apparently be- 
longs the credit of initiating an industry, which has expanded into 
such vast proportions. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 191 

of clouds, which were soon to gather in darkness and 
burst in ruin upon his fortunes. It is a petition to the 
Legislature for relief, from alleged fraudulent prac- 
tices, by the consummation of which he was ultimately 
stripped of a large portion of his estate. 

To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York^ 
in Senate and Assembly convened : 

The petition of William Gilliland formerly merchant 
of New York, afterwards an inhabitant and proprietor 
of several settlements by him founded and established 
on the western banks of Lake Champlain, within the 
state of J^ew York, and now a refugee in the city of 
Albany, Humbly Sheweth. 

That in consequence of a Proclamation published by 
the present King of Great Britain on the 7th day of 
Oct. 1763, (when the said King was considered, and 
acknowledged the lawful, and rightful sovereign over 
British America) whereby he directed his governors in 
America to grant without fee or reward to such re- 
duced officers, and discharged soldiers as had served 
in America during the last war, certain quantities of 
land therein mention ed. Your petitioner being desirous 
procure an inheritance for his children, laid out the to 
principal part of his property in the purchase of officers' 
and soldiers' rights to unappropriated lands in this state 
to which they were entitled by virtue of the said pro- 
clamation, whereon to establish settlements of good and 
useful inhabitants, and for that purpose proceeded to 
Lake Champlain in the northern extremity of this state 
in the year 1764, where he formed the first settlement 
in that dreary and remote wilderness, then upward of 



192 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

seventy miles from any Christian habitation (the gari- 
sons excepted) and at the expence of many thousands 
of pounds, great diligence and much fatigue accom- 
plished his arduous undertakings, and resided there 
until our army returned from Canada, when your peti- 
tioner abandoned his all and fled from the power of a 
remorseless enemy, so peculiarly incensed against your 
petitioner for his patriotism, as to induce the offer of 
500 dollars as a reward for apprehending your petition- 
er, and carrying him prisoner to Canada, for which 
several attempts were ineffectually made. That your 
petitioner yet remains unpossessed of patents for part 
of the said lands, to the amount of upwards of eight 
thousand acres (to which he is entitled by virtue of pur- 
chases by him made from officers and soldiers, there- 
unto entitled by virtue of said proclamation, amounting 
in every respect to the most positive and solemn man- 
damus) occasioned partly by his remote situation from 
'New York, but chiefly by the avarice of the then Sur- 
veyor General, who insisted on being paid fees contrary 
to the express words and sense of the said mandamus, 
and to which unjust demand, your petitioner conceived 
he ought not by any means comply. And that your 
petitioner hath not obtained a patent for the said lands. 
Yet being possessed of the king's mandamus for the 
same, which is the most solemn kind of grant, having 
petitioned for, located and held lands, surveyed by Mr. 
Thomas Palmer, by order of Alexr. Golden, Esq., the 
then Surveyor General, he conceived himself amply se- 
cure in making very considerable improvements and 
in erecting several mills and other buildings thereon 
at much expense,jWherefore to remove all doubt and 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 19 B 

occasion of future contention and controversy respect- 
ing your petitioner's just right and title unto the said 
lands, 

Your petitioner humbly prays that your honors will 
be favorably pleased to order that letters patent shall 
be made out forthwith, in the names of the several pe- 
titioners, who have hereunto applied for the same thro 
the agency of your petitioner, and whose petitions may 
be found, part of them in the Secretary's office, and 
part of them accompanying this petition, or else in your 
petitioner's name as purchaser from them, as may ap- 
pear by their several transfers or conveyances here- 
with, and your petitioner as in duty bound shall pray, 
&c., William Gilliland. 

Albany, 30 Dec. 1783. 

Original laid before the Legislature atEsopus in the 
month of March, and then committed as I have been 
informed. Will Gilliland. 

List of the several petitioners names to which the an- 
nexed petition refers, together with their station in 
the army, the date of other petitions, the time of de- 
livering them to the Governor or his Secretary, and 
their respective locations. 

Abram Lowe, late Lieut, in the 4th Battery, his 
majesty royal Americans or 60 regt. for Cumberland 
Head on the west side of Lake Champlain. (N. B.) His 
first petition for this tract was 2000 acres, presented to 
Lt. Gov. Golden at his seat on Long Island, by whose 
order it was delivered to Goldsbro Banyer, Esq., Dep^ 
Secy., who endorsed the date he rec'' it thereon, as 
may appear by the same. This tract I again presented 
25 



194 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

a petition for to Sir Henry Moore, when he became 
Gov"" dated 14 Dec. 1765, and then delivered to his 
Sec^. This tract was surveyed at my expence in the 
summer of 1764 by Thomas Palmer, Deputy Surveyor, 
pursuant to his instructions from the Surveyor Gen^ 
who has been furnished with the survey and maps 
thereof by me through the hands of G. Banyer, Esq., 
and afterwards the duplicate thereof, transmitted to 
Mr. Golden immediately from myself. The foUow- 
ino; non com" officers and soldiers for a tract of land on 
the west side of LakeChamplain extending from Rattle- 
Snake Den to the Bay De Roche fendu, bounded on 
the west by mountains, on the east by said Lake, was 
surveyed by Mr. Thomas Palmer at my expence in 
June 1764 and passed council the 20th Feby., 1765 as 
per council minute book may appear, viz. Brot. over 
2000 acres. 2000 

From my memorandum book, I think they 
were ConradBull, Simon Berness, Edward Bou- 
man, John Williamson, Thomas Stafibrd, Henry 
Moore, Daniel Moriarty, Robert Alexander, 
Christ. Dougan, and John Smith, non com" offi- 
cers, 200 acres each. 2000 

Richard Aspenwall, Dan' Buxton, Philip Rich'' 
George Fingle, Daniel Cuthbert, and James 
Smith, privates. 300 

Thos. Denhart, Wm. Blayroch, Philip Simon, 
and John Viant, com" officers 200 acres each. 800 

As p'" their petition dated and delivered to Sir 
Henry Moore's Sec'' the 17th Dec. 1765. On the west 
side of Lake Champlain, bounded by the said Lake on 
the east line of a tract granted by Lieut. Peter Stuart. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 195 

Joseph Hands, forth Sergt., Thos. Lidwel Ma- 
tross, Cornelius Hays, Peter Sullivan, Nathaniel 
Pideey, Edw*^ Blakley, and Corrand Leflers, 
privates. 650 

To be bounded by the last above mentioned land on 
the north, by Lake Champlain on the east, petition 
thereon dated on the 17th Deer. 1765, and then deliv- 
ered to Sir Henry Moore's Secretary. 

John Betkee, John Smith, Sergeants, Isaac 
Eemer, Capt. Alexr. McKeusie, John Winter, 
Christian Grouse, Peter Sullivan, and Dennis 
Hall, privates, for 850 acres of land on the west 
side of Lake Champlain. 850 

Beginning at the shore thereof, at the distance of 
two miles from the Fort at C. Point and number of 
acres carried out 6600. 

Last location continued and extending thence along 
the lake southerly to the north east corner of a tract 
of land granted to major Campbell, and thence along 
his north line west so far as to make up the said 850 
acres. 

Adam Pence, John McKarty, John Sullivan, 
James Pyat, John Stanley, "Wm. Bedford, Wm. 
Holdship, John Welsh, and John Jamison, non 
com" officers. Anthony Garret, Thomas Rob- 
erts, Leonard Williams, Michael Kiough, Wm. 
Gilfan, James Moore, Richard Steele, Patrick 
McMullen, and George Unsett, privates, 2250 



Total, 8850^ 

• 'The caveat of Gilliland without date in respect to the above 8850 
acres is presei'ved in the office of Secret ai"y of State in the column of 
land papers vol. 37, page 31. 



196 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

To be bounded on the north by the south line of a 
14000 acre tract granted in July 1769 to Deans and 
associates, and by the north line of a tract granted to 
Duykinck Beekeman and others on the south, by 
Lake Champlain on the east and so extends to far west 
as to include the said 2250 acres. 

N. B. This land was petitioned for by the persons 
through my agency the 12th May, 1773, as by their 
petition directed to Gov. Tryon in the Secretary's of- 
fice may appear. Copies of all the forementioned peti- 
tions are now in the hands of the subscriber ready to 
produce, settlement and improvement many years be- 
fore the commencement of the late war having been 
by him made of each tract except that adjoining Wm. 
Campbells and the above mentioned, and caveats have 
by him been lodged in the Secy, ofiice and with the 
surveyor Gen^ long since lorebidding the grant of them 
to any other than Wm. Gilliland. 

Albany 30 Dec, 1783. 

The document which succeeds the foregoing on the 
pages of the Journal, is the following draft of a letter 
with neither date or address, evidently written to an 
Irish commercial correspondent soon after the peace of 
'83. It exhibits some interesting incidents to which al- 
lusion is no where else made. One paragraph demands 
peculiar attention. It discloses the characteristic 
sagacity and forecast of Gilliland, and is the earliest 
utterance I have seen of the idea of uniting the lakes 
with the ocean by an artificial communication. The 
thought is crude and intangible, and probably an eva- 
nescent fancy, but the conception is distinctly unfolded. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 197 

Gentlemen — As this country was involved in a ruin- 
ous war (at least to me as an individual, thougli I was 
educated in Republican principles), I may with truth 
say I lost my all. That not being able to guess what 
the event might be, I thought it best to leave a trifle 
in your hands, by which I might be benefitted on a 
rainy day. And it is extremely fortunate that I was 
so provident, for I have lost every shilling.^ I was 
worth by the war and by my endeavors to change the 
face of nature, for the now fertile banks of Lake Cham- 
plain was nothing but a howling wilderness on both 
sides, the garrisons of Crown Point and Ticouderoga 
excepted. That my circumstances were opulent when 
I first undertook this arduous affair, appears by even 
the cost of furniture of my house; though mostly 
bought at vendue, it cost me near XI 200, and I could 
well afford that expence, as from a single hundred 
pounds I had invested out of my wife's fortune, to 
"keep the bone green," as the saying is, together with 
my credit which Avas very good, my first years gain 
was £2380-14-1 ; but all the expenses of my family, 
house rent, clerks salaries, servants wages and bad 
debts reduced it to X1787-17-2. When I got remit- 
tances for my wife's fortune from Europe, treasure 
flowed in upon me from all quarters, so that I now 
greatly regret I had ever quit trade. But as I am, I 
intend to apply to that honorable body, the Congress, 
when they next meet, which it is said will be at Phil- 
adelphia, about the first day of November next, and 
if they do me the least degree of justice, they will give 

1 He must allude to his personal estate, for in another paragraph he 
refers to his possessions on the lake as still owned by him. 



198 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

me at least X15000, when I shall resume trade in the 
city of New York; leaving the care of all my estates 
at Lake Champlain to my children, who are now com- 
petent to that business. The region of both sides of 
Lake Champlain, is now a well inhabited country, and 
the lands amazingly advanced in value even at present. 
How much more valuable will they become, when an Inland 
navigation will be made from sea to sea, which its expected 
will be comijleied in less than two years from this time. 

But I wander from my intended subject, which was 
to assure you, that every benefit it may be in my power 
to throw into the hands of such kind and generous 
friends, as you have ever been to me, shall be exerted 
in your favor. Meanwhile, whatever balance you may 
find due to me, you will be pleased to send me by some 
good vessel bound for the port of New York, in Irish 
linens | wide, under eighteen pence sterling per yard, 
so that I may be entitled to draw the bounty, IJ per 
yard. In the interim I request you will be pleased to 
apply to Mr. Thomas, present, and get from him deeds 
of lease and release for my estate in this county of Or- 
ange; containing 1200, acres strict measure. It was 
granted to Dr. John Depew, in the year 1722 ; but name 
the quantity in the deeds, "be the same more or less," 
allowance having been made for rough running, on 
account of inaccessible mountains. 

My son-in-law, Capt. Daniel Ross, has two pot-ash 
works at Lake Champlain, from which he expects to 
make at least 100 barrels, superior quality, next season, 
and if encouraged by the price and the bounty could 
procure five times the quantity. If he ships to any 
port in Britain, and is advised by me, he will ship the 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 199 

whole to your address. I request you will be pleased 
to favor me with an early answer, and the price cur- 
rent of pot ash and other articles. By which you will 
greatly oblige, Gen" yours &c. W. G. 

The brief paper copied below, I found among the 
memoranda of Mr. Gilliland, and was written, I con- 
jecture, soon after the Revolution. I have deemed 
its preservation desirable, as affording authentic data 
by which to contrast our present with the former com- 
mercial facilities of the country. 

Expense of transporting a ton weight of merchan- 
dize from New York to the boundary line between 
this State and the Province of Quebec, on Lake Cham- 
plain, 

Freight from New York to Albany, - .£0-16-0 
Cartage and storage in Albany, - - - . 4-0 

Land carriage from Albany to Ft. George, 

65 miles, 2s. - - - - 6-8-0 

Storage at Ft. George, ---.--- 1_0 

Freight across Lake George, ----- 16-0 

Cartage to Lake Champlain, 6-0 

Storage at Lake Champlain, 2-0 

Freight to the Canada line, 1 00-0 

Add for loss, cartage and contingencies - 

which cannot be foreseen, - - - - Xl-07-0 

.£11-00-0 

Proposals of William Gilliland to his Creditors. 
Gentlemen. — You have been pleased to institute 
suits against me for several sums of money ; some of 
which are justly due, and some not. However, it an- 
swers no good purpose for you or me, to keep me in 



200 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

durance here, but quite the reverse, b}^ tying up my 
hands, and thereby preventing me from collecting 
money to pay oif all my debts, which I am persuaded 
I could soon do, was I at liberty. But I find by woe- 
ful and long experience that it is in vain for me to de- 
pend on others. I therefore want from you, gentle- 
men, reasonable time for the payment of what I owe 
you. One year for the one half, and two years for the 
payment of the other, for which I will put into the 
hands of faithful Trustees ample security, payable with 
interest. Some may suppose this time a long one, 
but you will be pleased to consider the uncommon 
scarcity of money, the very heavy losses I have had 
the misfortune to sustain during the late war, and that 
numbers have triple the time granted them, who have 
not suffered any losses compared to mine. 

On the 7th of January next, I shall have been con- 
fined here four long and tedious years, to the very 
great injury of my health and estate. It is high time 
I should have it in my power to put a stop to the de- 
predation and waste committed, and daily making on 
my estate, which will be beneficial to you, and greatly 
so to. 

Gentlemen, 

Your most humble serv't. 

Will Gilliland. 

To Brockholst Livingstone Esq., Council for Mr. 
John Bleecker, of Albany ; do for the estate of John 
Livingstone Esq., deceased ; do for costs due himself. 

Aaron Burr Esq., Council for Thomas L. "Witbeck, 
of Albany; "W. Cook Esq., for costs of defending a 
suit I bro't against "Wm. Deane, who, to avoid pay- 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 201 

ment, pleaded tlie statute of limitation ; Joseph AVin- 
ter Esq., Council for Hugh Holmes, by his agent John 
Ealston; Major Sill Esq., of Albany, council against 
me for Hopkins and Ingersoll in the negro business ; 
Wm. Cook Esq., of Kew York, employed by Mr. Eob- 
ert Bruce to sue for my bond pay"Ho Thomas Thomas, 
assigned to Mr. Bruce, X138-10-10. 

17th Sept., 1789. To this communication there was 
attached a long schedule of the securities he above 
proposed, which were based upon sales of land in 
Willsboro. 

The proposition appears not to have been enter- 
tained by at least one of the parties, from the following 
certificate, a copy of which is embraced in a letter of 
Gilliland. 

" I, Jonathan Pearsee, keeper of the goal in the city 
and county of New York, do certify, that William 
Gilliland was committed to the said goal on the 21st 
day of February, 1786, and continued in actual con- 
finement until the 3d day of December, 1791, at the 
suit of Hopkins and Ingersoll. 

Signed, Jonathan Pearsee. 

• 
To whom it may concern. 

I propose here to close my labours, and to commit 
the memory and the fame of Gilliland to the consider- 
ation of the reader. My researches have been directed 
to voluminous documents, comprising public memorials, 
letters, memoranda, and speculations on various sub- 
jects, written towards the close of his life and reach- 
ing down to May, 1793, but their reproduction in this 
volume would add little light to our understanding 
26 



202 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

of the character of Gilliland, or ilkistration to the 
annals of his times. Incoherent, confused, and often 
extravagant in language and feeling, and traced by a 
tremulous hand, these papers afford too palpable evi- 
dence of the approaching ruin of his energetic and 
vigorous intellect. Adversity, accumulated sorrows, 
and an impassioned conviction of treacheries, wrongs 
and injustice, had begun a work, that soon closed his 
career in mental alienation and by a sad and tragic end. 

When the earlier pages of this work had already 
passed through the press, my attention was directed 
by Doc"" E B O'Callaghan to a large mass of valuable 
original documents in the State Department at Albany, 
and among them many connected with William Gilli- 
land. The student of history is deeply indebted to the 
enlightened antiquarian labors of Doc* O'Callaghan 
for the preservation of these important memorials. 
Among these papers I notice the discharge of Gilliland 
from the army in 1758, and also his marriage bond the 
succeeding year. The former presents a phase in his 
variegated life of which I had no previous knowledge, 
and which is not referred to in the traditions of his fam- 
ily. I am not able to suggest any explanation of the 
circumstances which induced an individual occupjnng 
his social position, and distinguished by such intel- 
ligence and attainments, to enter the army as a common 
soldier except the incident which in early life led to his 
expatriation. 

The 35th regiment of the line, to which Gilliland 
was attached, formed the ill-fated garrison of Fort 
William Henry in 1757, which suffered so fearfully in 
the massacre by the Indians under Gen. Montcalm, 



THE CHAMrLAIN VALLEY. 203 

Whether Gilliland was present at that calamitous event 
I have no means of ascertainhig, but his silence on such 
a subject warrants the presumption that he was not. 
Ilis connection with this regiment, which was stationed 
on the Champlain frontier, necessarily made him fa- 
miliar with that territory, and amply explains a primary 
cause by which his mind was directed to it as a per- 
manent residence. It appears from a document which is 
printed in a subsequent page, and which is also pre- 
served in the state office, that Gilliland located his in- 
dividual soldier's right near Split Rock (Roche Fendre). 
This paper seems, in connection with other documents, 
to establish the identity of the pioneer with "William 
Gilliland the soldier. 

I reproduce the marriage bond as an interesting reve- 
lation of the habits of a past century. Other selections 
from these papers will appear in their chronological 
arrangement. 

His majesty's 35th regiment of Foot, whereof Lieut. 
Gen'^ Charles Otway is Colonel. 

These are to certify that the bearer hereof, William 
Gillilan, soldier in the regiment aforesaid, and in Cap- 
tain Bellew's company, hath served honestly and faith- 
fully for the space of four years, and is hereby dis- 
charged, being sickly and having got two better men 
in his room. 

Having first received a full and true account of all 
his Pay, arrears of Pay, Cloathing, and all other just de- 
mands, from the first day of enlisting into the said 
regiment to this present day of his discharge; as ap- 
pears by his Receipt on tlie other side. 



204 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Given at PJiiladeliylda — the 13tli clay of J.pn7, 1758. 
To all coneeruecl. 

Henry Fletcher 
Lieut. Col. 35tli regt. 

[Appeared for land in New York.] 

Kuow all Men by these Presents, That We William 
Gilliland of New York merchant, and John Van Gelder of 
the same city Blacksmith., are held and firmly bound unto 
our Sovereign Lord George the 2d by the Grace of 
God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, De- 
fender of the faith, &c. in the sum of/i?e Aimc?rec? pounde, 
current money of the province of Neio York, to be paid 
to his said Majesty, or his Heirs and successors: for 
the which payment well and truly to be made and 
done, we do bind ourselves, and each of us, our and 
each of our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, and 
every of them, firmly by these presents. Sealed with 
our seals, dated the eight day of February in the 32c? 
year of his said majesty's reign, annoq domini one thou- 
usand seven hundred and ffty-nine. 

The condition of this obligation is such, that whereas" 
the above bounden William GiUdand hath obtained a 
license of marriage for himself of the one party and Fliz- 
abeth Phagen of New York Spinster of the other Party. 
JS'ow if it shall not appear hereafter, that they or either 
of them the said Wm. Gilliland and Eliz'^ Phagen have 
any lawful Let or Liipediment of Pre-contract, af- 
finity or consanguinity, to hinder their being joined in 
the holy bands of matrimony, and afterwards their liv- 
ing together as man and wife ; then this obligation to 



THE CHAMrLAIN VALLEY. 205 

be void and of none eifect, or else to stand, remain, 
abide and be in full force and virtue. 

"Wm. Gilliland 
Jno. Van Gelder 
Sealed and delivered in the Presence of 



Robt. Yonge 



Marriage Bonds vol. ii, page 185. 



William Gillylan of the 35th, Peter Sullivan of the 
47th, and Michael Keongh of the 44th regiment, for 
50 acres each. Between Rattlesnake Den, and the 
Bay — De Roches Fendres, to be bounded southerly by 
Isaac Bumers north line, westwardly by mountains, and 
easterly by Lake Champlain; and extending so far 
northerly as to contain the quantity. 

Council Minutes, vol. 29, jpage 63. 

[Seems to be a fragment.] 

Letter which he had rec'd from the said Gilleland, 
on the subject of his claim to the lands aforesaid, 
which letter contained bare assertions, notlSupported 
by any vouchers, and irreconcilable with the applica- 
tions which he had formerly made to the Governor of 
New York. 

Resolved, therefore, that the Secretary of this state, 
be requested to prepare a draught of letters patent for 
granting to the said Zephaniah Piatt the lands peti- 
tioned for by him — to be laid before the Board at the 
next meeting. 

That this Board do adjourn to Tuesday the 8th day 
of February, in order that the said "W". Gilleland may 
have further time to lay before the Board such vouch- 



206 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

ers or papers in support of his claim as he may think 
proper, and that the Board will on that day finally de- 
termine respecting the lands aforesaid. 

[On the following page the passage given below.] 

His Excellency, the Governor being out of town on 
the 15th Jan^, agreed to meet on Tuesday the 25th. 
At a meeting of the said Commissiouers, agreeable to 
summons on Tuesday the 25th Jan'y, 1785. 

Present — His Exc^, George Clinton Esq., Gov*" of 
the state of IST. Y., Lewis A. Scott Esq., Secretary, &c. 
Gerard Banker Esq., Treas' of the said state ; Rob' 
Troup Esq., Attorney to W"" Gilleland attended. 

Agreeable to the request of this Board of the 11th 
instant, the Secretary produced such papers respecting 
the claims of W™ Gilleland to the land located by 
Zephaniah Piatt, as were to be found in the Secreta- 
ire's office, which being read, appeared to be nothing 
more than an application to the Gov'' of the late prov- 
ince of ]^. York, unsupported by any minute or order 
of Council, or warrant for surve^ang. 
Mr. I^'roup read to the Board. 

Land Papers, v. 37, p. 76. 

To his Excellency the Gov"" and the other Gentlemen 
Commissioners of the Land office for the state of 
'New York. 

Gentlemen : I am desired by two gentlemen of my 
acquaintance, (both of them worthy men, and have 
taken an early active part in defence of our rights in 
the late war) to endevor to get a Lease of the Public 
Lands at Crown Point, and Ticonderoga for them. I 
am unacquainted with their value, and therefore am at 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. ■ 207 

a loss bow much to offer; but as I have re-establisbed 
my settlements at Lake Cbamplaiii, I would wish to 
have good neigbbors, wbicb induces me to make you 
an offer of five dollars a year more for each place tban 
you have yet rece*^, and to leave on tbe premises im- 
provements equal in value to any wbicb tbey may bave 
proposed to do. 

I bave tbe bon'" to be respectfully, 
Gent" your most Obe'd Servant, 
Will Gilliland. 
I^ew York, 22d Ap^ 1785. 

[Endorsement on next page of above.] 

Gentl": In order to bring matters to a certainty witb 
respect to tbe witbin mentioned Public Lands I will, 
in bebalfof my employers, give for Ticonderoga at tbe 
rate of sixty pounds, aijd for Crown Point tbe same 
rent [per ann.] under a lease of twenty-one years, 
and will leave on eacb place at tbe expiration of eacb 
term an improvement of two hundred pounds value. 
With great respect, I am, 

Genf your Obe'd Servent, 
Will Gilliland. 
To tbe Gent" Com", &c. 
22d Ap^ 1785. 

Land Pajyers, v. 37, 2^. 126. 

Sir: By tbe proposal which I have made for the Gar- 
rison Lands at Ticconderoga, I meant to include none 
but what lies east and north-east, and south-east from 
the Saw Mill Creek ; there is ten acres at the landing, 
and five acres on the west side of the Saw Mill Creek, 
which tho' I conceive them to be appendages to the 



»08 ■ PIONEER niSTORY OF 

Gamsoii of Ticconcleroga, yet I did not mean to include 
either in the location I have made. But if I get these 
two spots with that I have already' made an ofter for, 
I am willing to give forty pounds per ann. in addition 
to my former proposal, and to increase the improve- 
ment two hundred pounds at the end of the term. 
I have the honor to be, with much respect, 
Sir, 

Your Excellenc3''s 

Most obd't serv't. 
Will Gilliland. 
His Excellency the Governor. 

[ EndorBement on the back of tlie above letter.] 

Mr. Gililand will please to confine his proposals for 
the lands at Tyconderoga to those comprehended by 
the limits following to wit ; bounded southerly and 
easterly by the waters of Lake Champlain ; northerly 
and westerly by patented lands, as the commissioners 
cannot have any other lands there, and of course are 
not authorized to receive proj)Osals for any other least 
it might hereafter be subject of controversy. Mr. Gili- 
land will please to return this letter with his proposals. 

Geo. Clinton. 

3d May, 1785. 

Land Papers, v. 38, p. 109. 

Sir : I am sorry that my brevity (or incorrectness) 
in my former, occasions to you so much trouble ; hav- 
ing mentioned the two papers in a particular manner, in 
the letter I wrote to Mr. Scott, (now in your bands), I 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 209 

thouglit you would have had recourse to that for your iu- 
formatiou, should you be at any loss m mine to you 
about the matter. I dont want the papers out of your 
office. I am desirous only to know whether they are 
there, they are each an extract from the minutes of coun- 
cil, the one to Conrad Bull and others for 2300 acres of 
land on the west side of Lake Champlain, between 
Rattle Snake Den and the Bay De Roches Fendue, 
the grant of which to the pef was advised by council 
on the 20th July, or 8th May, 1763. The other is a 
grant advised by council of same tract to auo'" sett 
of pet" dated 8th May, 1765, or 20th July, same year, 
both setts of pet" had sold their respective shares to 
me ; how I came to cover my own location is now a 
mystery, but I fancy it must have happened thro' mis- 
take ; for I see by my memorandums that I soon with- 
drew Bitkin's and associates pet° and located for them 
elsewhere. 

Pray, could not a citation from your Board compel 
evidences to appear before you to testify what they 
know to be true respecting the controversy between 
parties, especially if the person desirous to have the 
benefit of his evidence is willing to pay him ? Perhaps 
your Board will be desirous that CoP Thomas Palmer 
shall confirm by his oath the certificate he gave me 
(now in your hands) respecting his survey of Bessbo- 
rough, and you know I can have no other power but 
that of persuasion only, which on my application to 
him availed not, perhaps indeed it might answer to 
send up a copy of his certificate, that he might be 
qualified before a Justice, directed by his Excellency 
to interrogate upon it. 
27 



210 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

I continue a perfect cripple tliro' the obstinacy of 

my disorder, but am, 

Sir, 

Your most obed't St. 

Will Gilliland. 

G. Bancker, Esq. 

Land Papers, v. 39, p. 126- 

At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Land of- 
fice of the State of New York, held at Mr. Heyers in 
the City of New York, on Tuesday, the 14th day of 
March, 1786. 

Present, His Excellency, George Clinton Esquire, 
Governor, Lewis A. Scott Esquire, Secretary, Gerard 
Banker Esquire, Treasurer, and Peter T. Curtenius 
Esquire, Auditor. 

The Board, agreeable to appointment proceeded to 
the hearing of the claim of William Gilliland in vir- 
tue of several locations by him, made under the rights 
of sundry officers and privates of the two Regiments 
which were to be raised for the defence of the State 
on bounties of unappropriated lands on certain lands 
interfering with those set apart by this Board on the 
28th of January, 1785, for the Canadian and Nova 
Scotia Refugees, whereupon Mr. Gilliland in support 
of his said claim produced to this Board copies of the 
following locations filed in the Surveyor General's 
office, certified by Simeon DeWitt Esq., Surveyor 
General, to wit, of Ezekiel Tutliill for five hundred 
acres on the falls of the little river Chazy, filed the 19th 
of August, 1783, of Captain Simeon Newell for fifteen 
hundred acres at the line of the state, filed the 21st 



THE CHAMPLAIN" VALLEY. 21 1 

January, 1784, of Ensign Grideon Cowles for one thous- 
and acres adjoining Captain Newell's location filed the 
2l8t January, 1784, of James Shepherd fortive hundred 
acres on the great river Cliazy, filed the 5th of May, 
1785, and of William Richardson for five hundred 
acres at the same place, filed the same day. And the 
Board having inspected the said certificates, and com- 
pared them with the muster rolls and returns of the 
Corps formed of the Recruits raised for the said two 
Regiments, and having also read and considered the 
Proofs and allegations of the parties, respectively, do 
determine, 

That none of the locations under which the said 
"William Gilliland claims except that in the right of 
E^tfildaLTuthill ought to operate to the prejudice of 
the said Canadian and N'ova Scotia Refugees. 

Resolved therefore that the said claims except the 
one under the right of Ezeki e l Tuthill be dismissed 
and that the Surveyor General do proceed td^carry 
into execution the said order of this Board of the 28th 
of January, 1785, as explained in the resolution of this 
Board of the 13th May 1785 without regard to any lo- 
cations, but those which shall appear to have been duly 
made and filed in his ofiice prior to the first above 

mentioned order. 

Land Paj^ers, vol. 41, p. 11. 



I am indebted for a reference to the original of the 
following petition to the kindness of Doctor Franklin 
B. Hough, by whose research it was found among the 
archives in the State library. 



212 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

To the Hon"" the Legislature of the State of New 

York, in Senate and in Assembly convened. 
The Petition of William Gilliland formerly of Lake 
Champlain, in the County of Charlotte, now a Re- 
fugee in this city. 
Humbly Sheweth; 

That your Petitioner was the first person who at- 
tempted a settlement in the then dreary wilderness of 
Lake Champlain, in which he at length succeeded, after 
expending an ample fortune, and with eleven years 
close application and industry. 

That your Pef actuated by motives of the warmest 
affection, and attachment to the civil and religious 
rights, of the inhabitants of this country (wherein he 
hopes to end his days,) took an early active part in 
the present contest, which rendered him so obnoxious 
to the Brittish commanders in Canada, that General 
Carleton oftered five hundred silver dollars, as a reward 
for apprehending, and taking your Petitioner prisoner 
to Canada. 

That at the time of the retreat of our army from 
Canada, under the direction of General Sullivan, your 
Pet'' thro' fear of being destroj-ed, or injured by the 
enemy, or their savage allies, Avas constrained to desert 
and abandon his several settlements, (established with 
so much fatigue and treasure) together with a large 
stock of cattle, very plentifuU crops (well secured from 
the weather) a great quantity of bulky l" urniture, and 
implements of agriculture ; two grist and two sawmills, 
fifty other buildings (the property of your Pef and his 
tenants) all of which have been consumed by the ene- 
my, by the loss whereof, and of a large sum due by his 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 213 

tenants mills and farms ; your petitioner's losses occa- 
sioned by the present war, amount to upwards of seven 
thousand pounds sterling; of which he can fully satisfy 
your honors, or any gentleman whom your honors 
may think fit to appoint. 

That your Pef having very extravagant house rent 
to pay, and being exposed to other great expenses, in 
the support of a large family in these exhorbitant times, 
tho' in his manner of living he is much more frugal 
and parsimonious, than he ever before hath been since 
he kept house ; notwithstanding which, his utmost in- 
dustry in the management of the small capital which 
your petitioner hath preserved, is inadequate to the sup- 
port of himself and his family, notwithstanding which, 
and without paying the least regard, to the just ex- 
emption from taxation of personal estate, which your 
honors were pleased to extend to refugees in your pe- 
titioner's situation, or making any enquiry into your 
Pef circumstances, his income or expenditures, the 
assessors have taxed your Pef higher by twenty-five 
per cent, than they have taxed a gentleman who is 
said to be the wealthiest man in this whole city, and 
who has remained in his own house in peaceful safety, 
from the commencement of the present war. But it 
would take up too much of your honors time, to men- 
tion the great variety of cases nearly similar to the 
foregoing glaring instance of unequal taxation, which 
have of late taken place in this city. A critical review 
of the tax list itself, .would probably afford you the 
clearest and best information. 

May it therefore please your honors to give your 
petitioner relief from the unjust and illegal burden laid 



214 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

tenants, and by being deprived of upwards of six hun- 
dred pounds sterling annual income, arising from his 
on him by the present assessors, contrary to the letter 
and spirit of the act, and, in your wisdom, to make 
such alterations and amendments in the tax law, as 
will effectually put it out of the power of partial asses- 
sors, in future to oppress your Petitioner by unequal 
or illegal taxation and. 

Your Pet will ever pray &c. 

Will Gilliland. 
Albany, IstFeby. 1780. 

I find the following synopsis, in the Calendar of 
Land Papers, a highly valuable work recently compiled 
by Doctor O'Callaghan, ofdocumentsfiledbyMr. Gilli- 
land in the appropriate oflices at Albany. The papers 
attest the multiplicity and extent of his operations in 
real estate, and furnish indirect corroboration of many 
facts and occurrences stated in his memorials and let- 
ters. From these documents, I have selected a few 
from the peculiar interest they possess for publication 
which have been embraced in preceding pages. 

1763. Petition of William Gilliland of the city of 
New York, praying a grant of 60,000 acres of land, 
lying either near South bay, or between Ticonderoga 
and Crown Point on the west side of Lake Champlain ; 
or if sufiicient quantity cannot be granted at either of 
these places, the residue to be on a small tract adjoin- 
ing the river Boquet, for the settlement of a number 
of families, who are daily expected/ro?7i Ireland. — Land 
Papers, vol. 17, p. 11. 

Caveat by William Gilliland against granting to any 
other person lands within the bounds of five certain 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 215 

tracts on the west side of Lake Champlain, containing 
together 8850 acres, without date. Vol. 37, page 32. 

Jauy. 25, 1785. Minutes of the commissioners of 
the Land office, in relation to land located by Zepha- 
niah Piatt, and claimed by William Grilliland. Vol. 
87, page 76. 

April 28th, 1785, Proposal of "William Gilliland for 
a lease for 21 years, of Point Aufere. Vol. 38, page 4. 

May 4th, 1785. Letter from William Gilliland to 
Gov. Clinton respecting the proposals made by him 
for leasing the garrison land at Ticonderoga. Vol. 38, 
page 109. 

May 7th, 1785. Letter from William Gilliland to 
Gov. Clinton respecting his proposal for taking on 
lease lauds at Ticonderoga. Vol. 38, page 123. 
Papers produced by William Gilliland in Support of his 
Claims to Land, viz.: 

May 7th, 1785. Claim of Wm. Gilliland for lands on 
west side Lake Champlain. Vol. 39, page 120. 

Memorial of William Gilliland setting forth the 
cause of the delay in the trial about the settlement of 
his claim to lands, and praying that an early day may 
be appointed for the final hearing thereof. Vol. 39, 
page 122. 

Aug. 6. Certificate of Thomas Palmer, that he sur- 
veyed for William Gilliland several tracts of land on 
the west side of Lake Champlain, and also two tracts 
on the south side of Salmon river, containing respect- 
ively 2000 acres, and 800 acres. Vol. 39, page 123. 

Aug. 15. Affidavit of Stephen Tayler in relation to 
settlements &c., on W" Gilliland's land on the west 
side of Lake Champlain. Vol. 39, page 124. 



216 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

Aug. 17. Affidavit of Udney Hay in relation to Ed- 
ward Raymond's title under W"" Gilliland to lands in 
Bessboro on the west side of Lake Champlaiu. Vol. 
39, page 125. 

Oct. 15. Letter from William Gilliland to Jarrard 
Bancker asking information to aid him in the settle- 
ment of the controversy about a tract of land purchas- 
ed by him, lying on the west side of Lake Champlain, 
between Rattle Snake Den and the Bay de Roches Fen- 
dres. Vol. 39, page 126. 

Oct. 15. Letter from William Gilliland to secretary 
Lewis A. Scott, respecting the trial about the title to 
certain lands claimed by him, the trial between the 
Canadian refugees and Col. Willetts Corps, location 
soldiers rights, &c. Vol. 39, page 127. 

Oct. 24. Letter from W™ Gilliland to Secretary Scott 
about certain papers being extracts from the minutes 
of council of two grants of the same tract of land, 
which tracts lie between Rattle Snake Den, and the 
Bay de Roche Fendue. 

Extracts from the minutes of council relating to 
William Gilliland's claim, showing also the proceedings 
relative to the petition of soldiers for rights of land. 
Vol. 39, page 128. 

1764 Aug. 15. Petition of Dan'l Wriesbergh for a 
grant of 2000 acres of land on the west side of Lake 
Champlain. Vol. 39, page 129. 

Aug. 15. Certificate of Gen. Gage, that Lieutenant 
Dan'l Wriesbergh served during the war. Vol. 39, 
page 129. 

Sep. 24. Petition of John Connelly for a grant of 
2000 acres of land on the west side of Lake Champlain, 



THE CHAMPLA.IN VALLEY. 217 

between the river Boquet and Lake Champlain. Vol. 
39, page 130. 

1764, Sep. 20. Petition of Jolin Hicks, late surgeon, 
for leave to locate 2000 acres of land on the west side 
of lake Champlain, between the Cloven Rock and river 
Boquet. lb. page 131. 

Sep. 24. Petition of John Wharton, late Capt., for 
a grant of 2000 acres of land lying between the river 
Boquet and the Cloven Rock, on the west side of Lake 
Chami^lain. P3. page 132. 

Dec. 14. Order to the Surveyor General to survey 
the above land to Wharton. lb. page 132. 

July 6. Certificate of Gen. Gage, that Capt. John 
Wharton served during the war. lb. page 133. 

Oct. 2. Certificate of Gen. Gage, that Lieut. William 
Potts served during the war. lb. page 134. 

Oct. 12. Petition of Isaac Reamer, late Corporal, for 
a grant of 200 acres of land on the west side of Lake 
Champlain, between Rattle Snake Den and the Bay 
De Roche Fendue. lb. page 136. 

Oct. 15. Petition of Peter Lutnie, a reduced soldier, 
for a grant of 50 acres of land on the w^est side of Lake 
Champlain, between Rattle Snake Den and the Bay 
de Roche Fendue lb. page 136. 

Oct. 24. Petition of Francis Fay, Edward Blakeney, 
Dennis Hall, Thomas Sedwoll, and Cornelius Hays, 
late soldiers, for a grant of 250 acres of land on the 
west side of Lake Champlain. lb. page 137. 

Oct. 24. Petition of John Bethie, late Sergeant, for 
a grant of 200 acres of land, on the west side of Lake 
Champlain. lb. page 138. 

Oct. 24. Petition of John Smith, and John McCarty 
28 



218 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

for a grant of 400 acres of land, on the west side of 
Lake Charaplain. lb. page 138. 

Oct. 24. Petition of John Viand for a grant of 200 
acres of Umd, on the west side of Lake Champlain. 
lb. page 139. 

Oct. 24. Petition of Thomas Denhard, late Corporal, 
for a grant of 200 acres of land on the west side of 
Lake Champlain. lb. page 139. 

Oct. 24. Petition of Joseph Handsforth, and Philip 
Simon, late non-commissioned oflicers, for a gfant of 
200 acres of land to each on the west side of Lake 
Champlain. lb. page 140. 

Oct. 24. Petition of W^Blaylook, late corporal, for a 
ffrant of 200 acres of land on the west side of Lake 
Champlain. lb. page 140. 

Oct. 26. Power of Attorney from William Gillylan, 
Peter Sullivan, and Mich. Keogh to Thos. Carrol to pro- 
cure for them a grant of 150 acres of land. lb. page 
141. 

. Oct. 26. Petition of William Gilliland, Peter Sul- 
livan and Michael Keogh, for a grant of 150 acres of 
land, on the west side of Lake Champlain. lb. page 
141. 

Oct. 29. Petition of Conrad Lefler, a disbanded sol- 
dier, for a grant of 50 acres of land on the west side of 
Lake Champlain. lb. page 142, 

Oct. 30. Petition of William Gilliland for a grant 
of 1000 acres of land on the west side of Lake Cham- 
plain. lb. page 143. 

1765, Jan. 5. Petition of Geo. LeIIunte, late Cap- 
tain, for a grant of 3000 acres of land, on the east side 
of Hudson's river on Battenkill. lb. page 144, 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 219 

Jan. 15. Certificate of Gen. Gage, that Capt. George 
Le Hunte served during the war. lb. page 144. 

Jan. 29. Petition of Peter Stewart, setting forth 
that he served as mate on board the ships of war 
Shannon, and the Shrewsbury, and praying a grant of 
2000 acres of land. lb. page 145. 

Feb. 15. Petition of John Friswell, hite Lieut, in 
the Navy, for a grant of 3000 acres of land on the west 
side of Lake Champlain. lb. page 145. 

1764, Jan. 23. Certificate of Phil Durall, that John 
Friswell was Midshipman on board ship Princess 
Amelia, during the seiges of Louisburgli and Quebec, 
lb. page 146. 

Feb. 15. Certificate of John James, that the Prin- 
cess Amelia was at the reduction of Louisburgh and 
Quebec. lb. page 146. 

1764, Jan. 10. Letter from J. Powell in relation to 
Capt. Friswell's claim to land. lb. page 146. 

1765, April 27. Petition of Daniel Buxton, Philip 
Richards, Daniel Cuthbert, Richard Aspinwall, George 
Tingle, Daniel Keels, John Smith, and James Smith, 
disbanded soldiers ; Robert Alexander and Christo- 
pher Dugan, reduced non-commissioned ofiicers, for a 
grant of 50 acres to each disbanded soldier, and 200 
acres to each reduced non-commissioned oflicer. lb. 
page 147. 

Apr. 26. Petition of Conrad Bell, Simon Bemis, 
Edmund Bowman, John Williamson, Thomas Stafibrd, 
Henry Moore, and Daniel Moriarty, reduced non-com- 
missioned officers, for a grant of 200 acres of land each, 
on the west side of Lake Champlain. lb. page 148.^ 

^This long catalogue of claims formed the basis of the tides Gilli-? 
land asserted to most of his Champlain estates. Nearly all the above 



220 PIONEER HISTORY OF 

1771, Jan. 8. Memorial of 'William Gilliland for a 
grant of 7350 acres of land, near Lake Champlain, to- 
gether with part of a creek on which he has erected 
some mills. Vol. 40, page 56. 

1773, June 20. Memorandum of lands purchased by- 
William Gilliland from non-commissioned officers and 
soldiers, and petitioned for by him. Vol. 40, page 60. 

Sep. 14. Memorial of William Gilliland setting forth 
that he purchased the rights of several disbanded sol- 
diers and non-commissioned officers to lands, and locat- 
ed the same on Lake Champlain, and praying that the 
Surveyor General be ordered to make return thereof, 
and that letters patent issue for the same. lb. page 
68.2 

1787, Aug. 24. Return of a Survey for W» Gilliland 
of 2300 acres of land on the west side of Lake Cham- 
plain, between a place called Rattle Snake Den and 
the Bay De Roche Fendue (Westport Essex Co). Vol. 
45, page 84. 

1789, Feb. 11. Certificate of location for William 
Gilliland and Mathew Watson, of 500 acres of land on 
the west side of Lake Champlain, beginning 73 chains 
west from the mouth of the little river Chazy. (Chazy, 
Clinton Co). Vol. 46, page 45. 

1789, June 22. Certificate of location for William 
Gilliland and Mathew Watson, of a tract of 200 acres 

list of names appear in his memorials. The patents lying between the 
Boquet and Split Rock, granted to the names of Wriesburgh, Conolly, 
Hicks, Potts, Wharton, and Friswell, still exist, and in accordance 
with the original location. 

^I find sixty-five pages of the Land Papers occupied by Gilliland's 
documentary evidences of title, in addition to those enumerated in the 
above synopsis. The list is too voluminous for republication. 



THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 221 

of land on the west side of Lake Champlain, beginning 
at the river Boquet, seven chains north of the !S. W. 
corner of James Judd's patent. (Essex and "Westport, 
Essex Co). Vol. 47, page 33. 

June 22. Certificate of location for William Gilli- 
land and Mathew "Watson, of 200 acres of land on the 
west side of Lake Champlain, (Essex and Westport). 
lb. page 34. 

Numerous other similar documents appear in these 
volumes under the name of William Gilliland Jr., but 
most of them apparently connected with these claims. 



INDEX. 



Abercrombie, Gen., 18, 32, 95, 
Acadia, 18. 
Adams, Saml., 95. 
Address of Gilliland, 28. 
Adirondac mountains, 9, 96. 
Aiken, AbraUam, 87. 
Aix-la-Cbapelle, treaty of, 15. 
Alamollie river, 131. 
Albany, 26, 31, 32, 41, 51, 86, 92, 

93, 126, 127, 153, 182, 191, 

193, 199, 200, 201, 214. 
Albany, committee of safety at, 181. 
Alexander, Capt., 59. 
Alexander, Robert, 194, 219. 
Allen, Col. Ebenezer, 74. 
Allen, Col. Ethan, 14, 43, 44, 46, 

48, 50, 175, 176. 
Alvis, Mr., 134. 
Amherst, Gen.. 18, 19, 119, 
Arbitrary justice, 129. 
Armagh, 23. 
Armistice, 189. 
Armstrong, Martin, 171. 
Armstrong's brook, 170. 
Arnold, Gen., 46, 47, 50, 59, 60, 

63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 

73, 76, 119, 174, 175, 176, 

179, 180, 181. 
Arnold, Gen., "invective against, 

06. 
Arnold. Gilliland's letter to, 58. 
Arnold's letter to Gen. Gates, 60. 
Aspinwall, Richard, 194,219. 
Astronomer's island, 135. 



Aufere point, 215. 

Au Sable river, 35, 88, 114, 115, 

146. 
Au Sable, note on, 112, 113. 
Avery, Dep. Com. Gen., 57. 
Ayres, Eliakim, 94, 95, 96, 110, 

119, 121, 122, 123, 134, 157, 

168. 
Ayers, Mrs., 123. 
Baker, Remember, 47. 
Banker, Gerard, 206, 210, 216. 
Banyer, G., 193, 194. 
Barnes, \Vm., 93. 
B.atcbelors creek, 38, 160, 162, 163. 
Bateaux, note on, 93. 
Battle of Lake Champlain, 70. 
Bay Perrow, note on, 123. 
Beaman, Nathan, 14. 
Beaver meadows, 101. 
Beaver river, 115, 147, 
Bedford, Wm., 195. 
Beekeman, Duykinck, 196, 
Beekmantown, 78. 
Bell, Conrad, 219. 
Bellew, Capt., 203. 
Belton, George's house, 170. 
Belton, George, 92, 102, 109, 110, 

119, 122, 123, 124, 128, 130, 

134, 135, 136, 140, 144, 157, 

159, 171. 
Belton, Mrs., 92. 
Bemis, Simon, 219. 
Bennington, 17, 46, 189. 
Bentzle, Mr., 14. 



224 



INDEX. 



Benzel, Mr., 123, 135. 

Berkshire county, 46. 

Berness, Simon, 194. 

Bertie, 100, 101. 

Bessboro, 35, 77, 209, 216. 

Betbie, John, 217. 

Betkee, Jobn, 195. 

Birmingham, 114. * 

Bitkin, iMr., 209. 

Blakeney, Edward, 217. 

Blakley, Edward, 195. 

Blaylook, Wm., 218. 

Blayroch, Wm., 194. 

Bleecker, Jobn, 86, 200. 

Bleecker, Mrs., 86. 

Block house, Pierson's, 48. 

Blood, Nathaniel, 02, 171, 172. 

Bogert, William, 153, 

Boquet, Gen., 96. 

Boquet river, 20, 26, 32, 34, 35, 
38, 41,53,54,72,73,74,77,87, 
89, 91, 97, 98, 103, 105, 110, 
141, 150, 165, 214, 217, 220, 
221. 

Boquet river and falls, note on, 96. 

Bouman, Edw., 194. 

Boundary commi.ssion, 39, 132. 

Boundary, report on, 35. 

Bowman, Edmund. 219. 

Brady, Thomas, 124. 

Brandywine, 74, 183. 

Bready, Thomas, 136. 

Bremmers, George, 171. 

British, invasion of 1812, 91. 

Brown, Capt., 123. 

Bruce, Robert, 201. 

Brymers brook, 170. 

Bull, Conrad, 194, 209. 

Bulwagga bay, 13. 

Bulwaggy mountain, 99. 

Burners, Isaac, 205. 

Bunker hill, 17. 

Bush, Sam., 190. 

Bush, Isaac, 93. 

Burgoyne Gen., 18, 72, 73, 96, 98, 
183. 

Burke, Thos., 154, 156, 157, 158, 
159. 

Buidington, 87. 

Burr, Aaron, 83, 200. 

Button Mould bay, 62, 133. 

Buxton, Daniel, 194, 219. 



Byantum, John, 172. 

Camels Hump, 111. 

Cammeron, William, 171, 172. 

Campbell, William, 196. 

Campbell, Major, 195. 

Camp Island, 32, 98, 145, 151, 152, 
154, 164. 

Canada, 9, 12, 13, 17, 20, 22, 33, 
34, 50. 51, 63, 68, 72, 74, 80, 
90, 94, 99, 101, 111, 138, 139, 
158, 168, 175, 170, 177, 187, 
192. 199, 212. 

Canal, Champlain, 196, 198. 

Canal, project for, 77. 

Caniadere-Guarante — Lake Cham- 
plain, 11. 

Carillon, signification of, 16. 

Carder, Joseph, 189. 

Carlton, Gen., 39, 53, 71, 72, 73, 
119, 132, 175, 112. 

Carleton, Gov., 132. 

Carleton's prize, 70. 

Carrol, Thomas, 218. 

Castleton, 46. 

Cattle marks, 171. 

Caughnawaga Indians, 90. 

Charlotte county, 212. 

Charlotte county organized, 42. 

Chariot tesboro, 30. 

Cliambly rapids, 48. 

Champlain canal, 196, 198. 

Champlain, Saml., 10. 

Chapon or Schuyler island, 119. 

Chazy river, 78, 210, 220. 

Ciie-onderoga, signification of, 16. 

Chesterfield, 97. 

Chislm, Mrs., 93. 

Chism, John, 92, 96, 119,110, 124, 
136, 137, 142, 152, 158, 156. 

Chism, Tho., 130. 

Chism, Yon, 157. 

Climate, unchanged, 164. 

Clinton county, 80, 87, 89, 220. 

Clinton county organized, 87. 

Clinton, Gov.. 206, 208, 210, 215. 

Cloven rock, 33, 134,141,144,217. 

Cloven rock, note on, 103. 

Colden, Alex., 192. 

Golden, Lieut. Gov., 193, 194. 

Cold, Spring, 111. 

Coleman, jNIr., 127, 

Colony, aspect of, in 1775, 55. 



INDEX. 



225 



Colonies, sources of revolt, IG, 17. 

Colonial province, new, projected, 
44. 

Colony, Gilliland's, 31. 

Commissioners, boundary, 132. 

Committee of safety, memorial to, 
182. 

Congress, memorial to, 174. 

Congress, note on word, 134. 

Connelly, John, 216. 220. 

Contest for leadership, 46. 

Cook, Wm., 200, 201. 

Cooper, Henry, 172. 

Corlears bay, 111. 

Corp island, 154. 

Corull, Geo., 173. 

Covenant, settlers' 169. 

Cowles, Ensign Gideon, 211. 

Crab island, 119. 

Cragan river, 116. 

Craig, Mary, 93, 129. 

Creditors, proposal to, 199. 

Cross, Henry, 172. 

Cross, Mr., 61. 

Crown Point, 13, 16, 19, 20, 21, 
26, 33, 37, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47, 
49, 50, 51, 52, 56, 60, 63, 65, 
68, 71, 72, 87, 88, 95, 96, 98, 
99, 122, 123, 124, 128, 129, 

132, 133, 134, 168, 175, 176, 
177, 178, 179, 195, 197, 206, 
207, 214. 

Crown Point, business of, 119, 120. 
Crown Point seized, 12. 
Crown Point, traffic of, 14. 
Crown Point, population in 1700, 

13. 
CuUen water, 112. 
Cumberland bay, 110, 118. 
Cumberland creek, 118. 
Cumberland head, 35, 36, 56, 78, 

133, 134, 150, 193. 
Cumberland river, 118. 
Curtenius, Peter F., 210. 
Cuthbert, Danl., 194, 219. 
Cuyler Stephen, 86. 
Cuyler Charles, 86. 
Cuyler, Stephen, jr., 86. 
Dari, John, 154. 

Day, Israel, 173. 
Day, Ithamer, 172. 
Day, Jonathan, 173. 

29 



Day, Thomas, 60, 63, 64, 171, 173. 

Day, Thomas, deposition of, 62. 

Day's creek, 170. 

Dead creek, 115, 118. 

Dean, Mr., 131, 132, 153. 

Deane, Nesbit, 166. 

Deane, Wm., 200. 

Deaths by drowning, 38. 

De Coucelle, 111. 

De Fredenburg, see Fredenburg. 

Denhart, Thos., 194, 218. 

Depew, Dr. John, 128. 

Descendants of Wm. Gilliland, 86. 

De Witt, Simeon, 210. 

Dibble, Israel, 125. 

Dickson, Moses, 96, 99, 102, 119, 

134, 
Dieskau, Gen., 18. 
Distraint, cattle sold on, 157. 
Documents, list of, 214-16. 
Doe run, 116. 
Dougan, Christ., 194. 
Douglas bay. 111. 
Drowning, deaths by, 126. 
Duck creek, 115. 
Dudly, Martin, 125. 
Dugan, Christopher.) 219. 
Dugnis, John, 173. 
Dujuit, Mr., 61. 
Dunn, Capt., 62. 
Durall, Phil, 219. 
Eckles, Lady Betsy, 23. 
Elections, how conducted, 89. 
Elizabeth bay, 120. 
Elizabeth point, 121. 
Elizabeth, note on, 105. 
Elizabethtown, 36. 
Elmore, Mrs., 10. 
Emancipation, 81. 
Encamping island, 154. 
England, bad policy of, 15. 
En gland, vessels constructed in, 68. 
Enniskelling, 109. 
Esopus, 193. 
Estate, large landed, 77. 
Essex county, 18, 45, 96, 220, 221. 
Essex county, survey of, 5. 
Essex village, 20, 36, 41, 74, 84, 
86, 87, 90, 103, 105, 121, 221. 
Europe, 197. 
Farrell, Mr., 160. 
Fay, Francis, 217. 



226 



INDEX. 



Ferris, Mrs., 124. 

Ferris, Wm., 124. 

Field, Dr. Joseph. 26. 

Fingle, George, 194. 

First house erected, 37. 

First scliool house, 41. 

Fish, exul)erance of, 97. 

Flat rock bay, 141. 

Flint, Jonathan, 171, 172. 

Flint, Joseph, 172, 173. 

Fort Albany, 74. 

Fort Carillon, 16, 19. 

Fort Edward, 29, 30, 32, 90, 93. 

Fort George, 94, 95, 128, 132, 1G6, 

1'.19. 
Fort Miller, 94. 
Forts captured, 47. 
Forts, plan to capture laid by 

Gilliland, 47. 
Fort William Henry, 18, 202. 
Four Brothers islands, 110. 
Fowler, Squire, 81. 
Franklyn, 87. 
Frazier, Capt., GO, 61. 
Frazier, Mr., IdO. 
Fredenburgh, Chas., 39, 40, 132, 

133, 150. 
Fredenburgh grant, 40. 
Freight, expense of, 199. 
French flotilla, 119. 
French, incursions by, 11, 12. 
French nomenclature, 110. 
French superiority, 89. 
Friswell, John, 14G, 219, 220. 
Funds raised to repair forts, 46, 
Gage, Gen., 216, 217, 218. 
Galland, Francis, 136. 
Gardner, Jacob, 171, 172. 
Gardner, Jotham, 171, 172, 173. 
Gardner vs. Frazier, 88. 

Garret, Anthony, 195. 

Gates, Gen., 51, 56, 57, 60, 63, 64, 
68, 70, 74, 81, 178, 181, 182, 
184. 

Ghent, 39, 13-5. 

Gilbert, Job, 190. 

Gilfan, Wm., 195. 

Gilliland, Charity, 12.5. 

Gilliland, Charlotte, 86. 

Gilliland, Eliz., 86, 125. 

Gilliland, James, 36, 41, 125, 166. 

Gilliland, Jane, 126, 127. * 



Gilliland, Jane Willsboro, 135. 
Gilliland journal, 6, 13. 
Gilliland income, 55. 
Gilliland, Henry P., 6, 8G, 116. 
Gilliland, Mrs. Eliz., 38, 125, 128. 
Gilliland, Mrs. Jane, 125, 161. 
Gilliland, William, 6, 8, 20. 
Gilliland, deathof, 85 ; epitaph, 86 ; 
marriage bond, 2U3 ; bounty 
for, 49. 
Gilliland, Wm., jr., 44, 86, 116, 221. 
Goodrich, Mr., 141. 
Goodrich & Ingersoll, 83. 
Government, local, organized, 42. 
Grand isle, 18, 131, 1-50, 190. 

Grant, Fredenburgh's, 41. 

Grant, John, 172, 173. 

Grants, royal, abrogated, 79. 

Green mountains, 9, 11, 48, 81, 111. 

Green mountain boys, 46, 176. 

Grouse, Christian, 195. 

Hadlock, Sam., 189. 

Haklibrand, Gen., 16. 

Haldibrand, Gov., 46. 

Haldimand, Gen., 189. 

Half Moon, 94, 126. 

Hall, Dennis, 195, 217. 

Handsforth, Joseph, 218. 

Hands, Joseph, 195. 

Hamilton, Miss Eliz., 125. 

Hampshire grants, 44. 

Harper, Robert, 39, 132, 135. 

Hartley, Col., 56, 57. 

Hartley, Lieut., 52. 

Hay, Major Udney, 52, 53, 57, 64, 
178, 216. 

Hay, tramp cocks, 102. 

Hay, Wm., 172. 

Hay, yield of, 130. 

Hays, Cornelius, 195, 217. 

Hays, 3Ir., 56, 61, 70. 

Hays, Mrs., 70. 

Hecks, Israel, 172. 

Henry, Mrs., 126. 

Henry, Rev. George, 34, 38, 92, 
99, 100, 126. 

Hermitage, the, 157. 

Herrick, Col., 47, 

Heyers, Mr., 210. 

Hicks, George, 106, 119, 122, 123, 
134, 154, 156, 220. 

Hicks, John, 217. 



INDEX. 



227 



Hicks, Mrs., 123. 

Higliby, Levi, 80, 90, 97. 

Hotfnagle, Melclioir, 88. 

Hoklship, Wm.. 1U5. 

Hopkins & Ingersoll, 81, 201, 

Hors3, first, 158. 

Hospital island, 119. 

Hostages, children retained as, 49. 

Hough, Dr. F. B., 211. 

Howe, Gen., 18. 

Hudson river, 32, 77, 93, 94. 

Hulme, Mr., 141, 145, 150. 

Hussey, Anne, IGG. 

Ice, formation of, 140. 

Ice, sinking of the, 101. 

Ice, surveys upon the, 141. 

Illinois, 8<J. 

Incursions by French, 12. 

Indian claims, 90. 

Indian devastations, 73. 

Indian council, 98. 

Indians, Burgoyne's summons to, 

72. 
Indians, Iroquois, 90. 
Indians, Six Nations, 90. 
Indians, St. Regis and Caughna- 

waga, 90. 
Indian sympathy, 70. 
Indian relics. 111. 
Invasion in 1776, G8, 69, 70.^ 

Ireland, a negro servant, 125, 137. 

Irishmen, colonists, 109. 

Iron manufactures, 90. 

Iron ore, 76, 189, 190. 

Iron works, 99. 

Iroquois, domains of, 12. 

Iroquois Indians, 90. 

Isle Cbapon, 111. 

Isle la Motte, 60. 

Isle La Molte, derivation of name, 
78. 

Isle Yalcour, 40, 60, 116, 133, 149. 

Jackson, Samuel, 94, 128. 

Jamaica island, 24. 

.lames, John, 219. 

Jamison, John, 195. 

Jauesboro, 35, 70, 86. 

Jimmy's Point, 36. 

Johnson, Gen., 18. 

Jones's patent, 110. 

Jones. Wm., 99, 100. 

Judd, Dr., 144, 221. 



Judd, James, patent, 26. 

Justice, practical, 88. 

Kane, Charles, 90. 

Keels, Daniel, 219. 

Keeseville, 113. 

Keough, Michael, 195, 205, 218. 

Killeen, 109. 

King, John, 106, 119, 122, 134. 

La Cole river, 134. 

Lake Champlain, 9; compared to 
Lake Constance, 9; explored 
by Samuel Champlain, 19 ; 
Indian name, U ; hostile in- 
cursions, 11; French survey 
of, 20; seigniory of, 20; i_ts 
bearing on the revolution, 17; 
battle of, 70; notes on, 99, 139. 

Lake George, 16, 30, 32, 47, 87, 
95, 132, 175, 199. 

Lake George, navigation of, 93. 

Lake Superior, 18. 

Lamar, Capt., 50, 177. 

Lamoille river, note on, 131. 

Land association, 54. 

Land commissioners, 210. 

Land commissioners, sec Letters. 

Land grants, Canadian, 20, 21. 

Lawsnn. Wm., 103. 

Law suits, early, 88. 

Leadersiiip, dispute for, 175. 

Leaky. Capt., 101. 

Leases, tilling, 219. 

Leech, Harel, 173. 

LelFers, Corrand, 195. 

Lefler, Conrad, 218. 

Le Hunte, George, 218._ 

Leonard, Jame^, 172, 173. 

Letters : 

Col. Hartley to Gen. Gates, 56. 
Wm. Gilliland to Gen. Arnold, 

58. 
Gen. Arnold to Gen. Gates, (iO. 
Gen. Gates to Gen. Arnold, 63. 
Fragment of, 2)5. 
To com"rs of land office, 206, 

207, 208, 209. 
From Gilliland, 197. 

Letters patent to Piatt, 205. 

Levi Point, 100. 

Lewis, Robert, justice of the peace, 

62. ^ ^ 

Lexington, 43, 46. 



228 



INDEX. 



Lidwel, Thomas, 195. 

Lion coucliant, 111. 

Little Au Sable river, 115. 

Little Britain, 109, 110. 

Livingstone, Brockholst, 83, 200. 

Livingstone, John, 200. 

Logan, James, 158, 159. 

Logan, James, note on, 138. 

Logans point, 144. 

Losses, Gilliland's, 82. 

Louisburg, 15, 219. 

Lowe, Lieut., 118, 193, 

Lewis, Robert, 63. 

Luckey, Wm., 94, 95, 98, 102, 109, 

110, 119,120, 124, 129, 153. 
Lumber trade, 80. 
Lutnie, Peter, 217. 
Macord, Mr., 100. 
Mann, Isaac, 153. 
Mapletown, 189. 
INIarks, cattle, 171. 
Massachusetts, 176. 
Mattoon, John, 92. 
McAuley, G., 159. 
McAuley, John, 92, 99, 102, 104, 

128, 130, 157, 158, 162, 166, 

156. 
McAuley, Messrs., 135, 141. 
McAuley, Mr., 130. 
McAuley, Robert, 37, 92, 102, 104, 

119, 120, 124, 129, 137, 141, 

142. 144, 158, 159, 161, 162, 

172, 173. 
McAuley, Wm., 41, 56, 61, 68, 88, 

136, 144, 166. 
McAuley's creek, 169. 
McAuley's house, 154, 165. 
McCracken, Mr., 155. 
McDonough, 19, 119. 
McElrea, John, 125, 137. 
McFarden, Rachel, 125. 
McGinniss brook, 170. 
McKarty, John, 195, 217. 
McKay, Mr., 153. 
McKensie, Alex., 195. 
IVIcKesson, John, 132. 
McLane, Robert, 92, 95, 96, 97, 

109, 119, 121, 128. 
McLaughlin, Archibald, 125. 
McLeon, Col., 175. 
McMullen, Patrick, 195. 
Meadows, note on, 101. 



Melson, George, 92. 

Memorial to committee of safety, 

181. 
Memorial to congress, 174. 
Military arrests, appeal against, 

75. 
Mills destroyed, 54. 
Mill sites on Lake George, 95, 97. 
Mill town, 34, 36, 37, 88, 40, 98, 

99, 101, 103, 110, 120, 123, 
125, 128, 131, 163. 

Milltown falls, 150. 
jNIinute men, 48. 
Missisqui bay, 61. 
Mohawk river, 90, 93. 
Montcalm, Gen., 19^ 202. 
Montcalm, Gen., sketch of, 18. 
Montgomery, Gen., 50, 176. 
Montreal, 18, 20, 34, 41, 50, 99, 

100, 101, 138, 155. 
Monty's Chantier, 172. 
Moore, Henry, 194, 219. 
Moore, James, 195. 

Moore, Sir Henry, 39, 40, 132, 135, 

194, 195. 
Moriarty, Daniel, 194, 219. 
Mt. Defiance, 74. 
Mount Morency falls, 100. 
Munsell, Joel, 7, 63. 
Muscalonge, 97. 
Negro business, 201. 
Newell, Capt. Simeon, 210, 211. 
New York, 28, 24, 25, 27, 28, 32, 

36, 38, 87, 90,92,94, 119,125, 

181, 132, 155, 166, 190, 191, 

192, 198, 199, 201, 204. 205, 

207, 214. 
New York, government of, 15. 
N. Y. legislature, petition to, 191, 

212. 
Nichols, Nathan, 172. 
North, Lord, 66, 180. 
O'Callaghan, Dr. E. B., 85, 202, 

214. 
Officers, town, 88. 
Orange county, 76. 
Otter Creek, 47, 71, 131. 
Otway Charles, 203. 
Palmer, Col. Thomas, 209. 
Palmer, Peter S., 40. 
Palmer, Thos., 192, 194, 215. 
Panton, 72. 



INDEX. 



229 



Parker, Benj., 189. 

Parker, Clark, 189. 

Parker, Ezekiel, 189. 

Parker, Jon., 189. 

Pearsee, Jonathan, 201. 

Pence, Adam, 195. 

Peru, 89. 

Perrew bay, 37. 

Petition to N. Y. legislature, 191, 

212. 
Petitioners, list of, 193-4. 
Pbagan, Elizabeth, 24, 204, 
Phngan, N. Y. merchant, 24. 
Philadelphia, 63, 197, 204. 
Phleming, David, 123. 
Pidey, Nathaniel, 195. 
Pierce, Major, 182. 
Pierson, Mr., 48. 
Pine Point, 141. 
Piatt, Zephaniah, 41, 205, 206, 

215. 
Plattsburgb, 40, 87, 88, 133. 
Plattsburgli patent, 41. 
Plattsburgb, salmon at, 97. 
Pomeroy, Gen., 17. 
Plum creek, 169. 
Point Pleasant bay, 60. 
Population, ancient, 13, 14. 
Potash works, 198. 
Pettier, Mr., 138. 
Potts, Lieut. Wm., 217. 
Potts, Mr., 220. 
Powell, J. 219. 
Prescott. Gen., 17. 
Price, Mr., 165. 
Providence, 189. 
Province, new, projected, 44. 
Putnam, Gen., 17, 18. 
Pyat, James, 195. 
Quebec, 34, 38, 39, 80, 90, 99, 100, 

132, 199, 219. 
Ralston, John, 201. 
Rattle snake den, 194, 205, 209, 

216, 217, 220. 
Raymond, Edward, 216. 
Reamer, Isaac, 195, 217. 
Reid, Col., 135. 
Revolution, beginning of, 168. 
Reynold, George, 154. 
Rhode Island, 189. 
Rice, Mr. George, 131, 132, 155. 
Richard, Philip, 194, 219. 



Richardson, Will, 211. 

Richelieu, 68. 

Roads, early, 87, 89. 

lload to Crown Point, 30. 

Roberts, Thomas, 195. 

Robinson, 94. 

Roche Fendue, bay de, 33, 103, 

194, 203, 204, 205, 209, 216, 

217, 220. 
Rogers, Gen., 18. 
Rogers, Piatt, 84, 85, 89. 
Romans, Capt., 59. 
Rome, 93. 
Rose, Mr., 88. 

Ross, Daniel, 84, 86, 87, 198, 
Ross, Generjil, 5. 
Ross, Henry H., 86. 
Ross, James, 141. 
Ross, AVilliam D., 86. 
Rudd, Jabez, 136. 
Pium at vendue, 168. 
Rutland, 190. 

St. Aranack river, 116, 117, 133. 
St. Armant, 117. 
St. Charles, 100. 
St. Clair, Gen., 57. 
St. Clair, defeat of, 89. 
St. Frederic, 15, 19. 
St. Johns, 9, 56, 61, 62, 68, 99, 

101, 175. 
St. Lawrence river, 44, 90, 100, 
St. jNIichael island, 150. 
St. iMichael's island, note on, 119. 
St. Regis Indians, 90. 
Salmon in Lake Champlain, 97. 
Salmon river, 6, 35, 36, 44, 70, 

78, 86, 115, 117, 148. 
Saranac river, 40, 41. 
Saranac river, note on, 117. 
Saratoga, 17, 72, 94, 128. 
Saw Mill creek, 207. 
Saw mills on Lake George, 95, 97. 
Scarr, Mr., 61. 
Scenery, Au Sable, 118. 
Scituate, 189. 

Schenectady, 32, 90, 93, 94. 
School house, first, 41. 
Schyler's island. 111. 
Schuyler, John, 111. 
Schuyler Philip, 39, 50, 63, 132, 

135, 175. 
Scott, Lewis A., 206,208, 210, 216- 



230 



INDEX. 



Sergeants land, 115, 116. 

Seasons, no change in, 125. 

Sedwell, Thomas, 217, 

Seigniory granted, 20. 

Settlement, plan of, 27. 

Settlers' covenant, 1G9. 

Settlers, diificulties with, 37, 122, 
129, 130. 

Settlers, first, of Willsboro, 86. 

Settlers, in 1780, 189. 

Shaford, Thos., 108. 

Shaft sbury, 189. 

Shelburn, 48, 188. 

Sheldon, Oicar F., 5, 6, 8, 14, 23, 
26, 35, 44, 48, 49, 78, 80, 86, 
87, 88, 97, 98, 122. 

Shepherd, Catharine, 93. 

Shepherd, .James, 211, 

Sheriif and posse captured, 49, 175. 

Shipboy, Thos., 153, 

Ship island, 71. 

Shoreham, 47. 

Shooting matches, 137. 

Sill, Major, 201. 

Simon, Philip, 194, 218. 

Six Nations, fears of, 89. 

Skeene, Philip, 44, 45. 

Skeenesboro, 45, 47, 94. 

Slaves, suborned, 81, 

Smith, James, 194, 219. 

Smith, John, 136, 156, 157, 158, 

159, 194, 195, 217, 219. 
Smith, Nehemiah, 125, 130, 136, 

142, 155, 157, 158, 160. 
Society, state agricultural, 5. 
Society for promoting arts, agri- 
culture and economy in the 
province of New Yorlc, 28. 
Soldiers, grants to, 191. 
Sorel river, 34, 100. 
Split rock, 26, 33. 36, 37, 38, 54, 

73, 77, 88, 89, 110, 203, 220. 
Split rock, note on, 103. 
South bay, 29, 30, 31, 214. 
Stafford, 88. 

Stafford, Thos., 194, 219. 
Stanley, John, 195. 
Stark, Gen,, 17, 18,51. 
Steele, Richard, 195. 
Stewart, Peter, 147, 219. 
Stewart & Friswell, 133. 



Stillwater, 38, 94, 125, 127, 135, 

160. 
Stippens, Major, 183. 
Stockner, James, 92, 95, 102, 104, 

110. 
Stoughton, Wm., 128. 
Stuart, Lieut. Peter, 194. 
Sullivan, Gen., 51, 177, 178, 212. 
Sullivan, John, 19.5. 
Sullivan, Peter, 195, 205, 218. 
Survey, French, 20. 
Surveys, 34, 103, 162, 166. 
Surveys upon the ice, 141, 146. 
Surveyor General, avarice of, 192. 
Taylor, Martin, 94, 95, 98, 102, 

119, 122, 134, 157, 159. 
Tfiylor, Stephen, 215. 
Tliomas, Mr., 198, 201. 
Thompson, James, 131, 132, 136, 

137, 138, 1.50. 
Tibbits, John, 190. 
Ticonderoga, 14, 18, 19, 26, 30, 32, 
34, 43, 45, 46, 47, .50, 51, 52, 
59, 61, 63, 66, 68, 69, 72, 74, ' 
95, 125, 128, 132, 168, 175, 
177, 178, 180, 197, 206, 207, 
208, 214, 215. 
Ticonderoga, Indian name, 16. 
Tingle, George, 219. 
Titles, conflicting, 21. 
Todd, Mr., 153. 
Town meetings, 173. 
Townsend, 18. 
Trampt cocks, note on, 102. 
Trespassing, Fredenburg warned 

against, 40. 
Trois Rivieres, 99, 100. 
Troop, George, 90. 
Troup, Robert, 206. 
Tryon county sheriff captured, 

49, 175. 
Tryon, Gov., 196. 
Tuthill, Ezekiel, 210, 211. 
Unsett, George, 195. 
Utica, 78, 93. 
Utrecht, 12. 

Valcour island, 69, 119. 
Van Gelder, John, 204, 205. 
Vanvranka, Mr., 182. 
Vergennes, 87. 
Vermont, 189. 



INDEX. 



231 



Vessel, attempts to raise, 71. 

Vessels, Arnold builds, 69. 

Viant, .John, 194, 218. 

Wages in 1765, 92. 

Walpole, Mr., 15. 

Walton, John, 110. 

Washington, Gen., 17, 176. 

Watson, Edward, 56. 

Watson, Jack, 56. 

Watson John, 36, 37, 61, 6.3, 64, 

95, 120, 122, 123, 125, 128, 

132. 
Watson Mathew, 220, 221. 
W.ayne, Gen., 57. 
Welsh, Catharine, 125. 
Welsh, John, 195. 
Westfield, 81. 
Westport, 35, 36, 220, 221. 
Wharton, Cupt. John, 135, 217, 

220. 
Wheat, culture of, 136. 
White creek, 162. 
White, Ebenezer, 171. , 
Whitehall, 9, 90, 94. 
White, Sheriff, 175. 
Willett, Col., 216. 
Williams, Betsey, 125. 
Williams, George, 109. 
Williams, Isaac, 136. 



Williams, Leonard, 195. 

Williamson, John, 194, 219. 

Willsboro, 20, 36, 37, 38, 42, 48, 
52, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 101, 
121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 134, 
137, 138, 147, 156, 167, 169, 
173, 174. 

Willsboro bay, 123. 

Willsboro falls, 33, 88, 89, 90, 98, 
110. 

Willsboro, Jane, 86. 

Willsboro, Mss. history of, 5. 

Willsboro, name derived, 103, 105. 

Wilson, Capt., 56, 61. 

Wilson, George, 95, 119, 128. 

Wilson, Jno., 173. 

Wilson, Mr., 141. 

Wind-mill point, 134, 135. 

Winooski falls, 87. 

AVinter, John, 195. 

Winter, Joseph, 201. 

AVitbeck, Thomas L., 200. 

Wolf's Cove. 100. 

Wood feed, 124. 

Wriesbergli, Danl., 216, 220. 

Wykes, William, 60, 62, 171. 

Yonge, Robert, 205. 

Yorktown, 125. 

Young, James, 166, 167. 



687 



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